Residents of the Mogale City Local Municipality (Krugersdorp, Magaliesburg, Muldersdrift) should brace themselves for the implementation of the new power tariffs.
This was made abundantly clear by Given Masuku, executive manager of the Department of Utility Management services, during a briefing of councillors on 21 August.
Residential power consumers using conventional power meters will have to pay between 23% and 27% more per month, depending on their consumption. Higher electricity consumption (measured in kilowatt-hour or kWh) will result in a higher tariff hike.
The new tariff structure is extremely complex, with seasonal tariffs as well as tariffs based on consumption.
In addition, there will also be new fixed charges including, among other things, a capacity levy based on the quantity of electricity supplied to end consumers.
As if that is not bad enough, large industrial consumers will have to pay up to 39% more during the winter months when the higher “seasonal tariffs” come into effect.
This decision could have an extremely negative impact on job creation in Mogale City, because the Council is deterring investors from investing in the local industrial areas.
The implementation of the new tariff structure could possibly also be unlawful seeing as the Council failed to submit the required documentation to the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) on time.
The FF Plus sent a query to the Speaker, Lucky Sele, about the documentation required by NERSA, but is yet to receive any feedback.
AfriForum has already filed a lawsuit against the Municipality and NERSA, among others.
The FF Plus wholeheartedly supports AfriForum in the dispute, because civil rights organisations and political parties should join hands to ensure that wherever government fails, the community is ready to step in.
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