Joburg Residents Set to Be Affected by Eskom Tariff Increase


By Tshegofatso Makola

The City of Joburg government has expressed its concerns regarding the recent announcement of the electricity tariff by Eskom, increasing by 18,65 percent. According to them, “Residents across the City will regrettably be forced to pay for years of political negligence and corruption”.

In a joint statement, Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse and MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Michael Sun each expressed their dissatisfaction towards the tariff increase, adding that their objections were necessary, as residents were already suffering from inflation, rolling blackouts and high food and fuel prices. 

Eskom had originally requested a 38,1% tariff increase during the public consultation process, but this was reduced to 18,65% by NERSA this week.

“Notwithstanding the lower increase, the approved 18,65% tariff increase remains unfair to the residents of Johannesburg who have endured rolling blackouts since 2008; with 2022 deemed the worst year to date, with no end in sight”- Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse.

Meanwhile, the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Michael Sun expressed that the continuous increase of tariffs from Eskom has resulted in the City having very little to protect residents from higher electricity prices. 

According to him, “The tariff increase will have far-reaching consequences and will further erode business confidence and disrupt the City's economic recovery, while negatively impacting on job creation efforts and the City’s revenue base.”

The Multi-Party Government in the City further expressed that it appreciates that Eskom must be financially viable, the city's residents cannot be the only channel used to justify what they have described as a "politically-made emergency".

The City of Johannesburg is set to commence with public consultation processes as part of the 2023/24 budgeting process, and has since expressed that while it would like to cushion residents from high electricity prices, the increased electricity tariff makes this difficult.

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City of Joburg

Mpho Phalatse

Michael Sun

Eskom

Tariff hike

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