Here is an extract from a report by Grove Steyn for treasury in 2003: Eskom and municipal tariff structures should continually be moved closer to cost, including real-time costs, so as to impact on customer behaviour and delay further generation investment and encourage more efficient demand-side adjustments and investments. While costs would be higher at peak times this strategy would limit the increases in average costs over the long term.
Electricity is fastly becoming the new gold in South Africa. As families battle to keep up with the load-shedding schedule, the soaring rate of purchase, and Eskom’s purchase policy that is making life unbearable for many. The problems of Eskom widens, so have their tactics improved on how to raise money to fill the gaps of misappropriated funds.
The loops of wires and hauled cables are the hallmarks of townships, many have found the back door to get it illegally, as the gaps between the have and have-not widens in a country that is grappling to reap the promises of democracy, 26 years on.
Living in an area that hardly experiences load shedding was a dream come true for so many in centurion. The high rates were directly assumed to have been as a result of the ever-constant power and were a reasonable price to pay, but that has recently changed.
Many of the residents in the wider east and west of Tshwane are having a higher pinch after the new tariff was applied. Resident took to social media to share screens of how electricity has become so expensive and unaffordable for even those who assumed they were in the high-income brackets.
” I thought something was wrong with my wiring and had to get an electricity specialist to check for loops, the consumption rates are fast and the Kwh given on prepaid recharges are low. How do we survive in a system as such” says Rooven Smith, a resident of Hennospark.
Is the real issue about the electricity tariffs, or the escalating cost of middle merchants making the cost soar higher. According to Eskom officials, there are special days of buying electricity. This allows users to monitor usage and also affects purchases on a sliding scale. The assumption is that every household must understand their consumption needs and use that pattern to buy.
We have so many day-to-day headaches to battle, why must a simple thing as electricity become such complicated math. We are told to buy once, specifically beginning of the month, in order to fix into the bulk buying plan that makes the units higher.
Prepaid metering was projected as the easy alternative away from fixed metering, a model system that would help us plan how we spend and monitor usage but it is fastly becoming a nightmare. To topple it is the latest law passed in parliament to convert all meters to prepaid, which makes it hard to query purchases and usage.
A complicated set of factors determines end-use electricity prices. Simply put the chain that makes up the final price includes:
1) Eskom’s costs for the generation and transmission of electricity. These include the cost of fuel, labour, services, materials, and property, and the cost of finance (equity and debt).
2) The costs involved in distributing electricity to end consumers and providing retail services (borne either Eskom or municipal distributors)
3) Profits (or losses) in addition to the economic cost of the capital employed in the enterprise. Municipalities typically mark up retail tariffs to make substantial surpluses from their power sales, while Eskom profits from distribution activities are generally lower.
The electricity supply industry (ESI) in South Africa remains organised along the lines of the traditional public monopoly model. Eskom produces 96% of power generated in South Africa, while large municipalities generate 1.3%, and a small number of private power producers generate 3.1%. Eskom also owns and operates the national high voltage transmission grid, which conveys electricity from Eskom power stations to the main load centres across the country. Currently, Eskom holds 55% of the distribution and retail market in terms of energy supplied, while the remaining 45% of its energy is sold to Municipalities who retail it to other end-users.
In the bid to find an answer to the way to understand the issues and the solution, I am made to believe residents who cannot afford electricity can apply with the municipality under a special program to assist. I would be following up with my ward councillor on the process and would share.
Till we get some answers, as to why we do not have a clear-cut purchase that is not inclusive of so many middlemen. We are always going to have these issues, and it can only get worse from here as we struggle with low wages, unemployment and many people move down the income scale. I can only hope that this steers up some conversations that can lead to an actual solution.
I act okay but paying R1000 for less than 350 units of Electricity is criminal. 😭😭😭
— Responsible Father of Three!!! 🇿🇦 (@AndileMlondo) July 26, 2021
If a household in daveyton can get 600kwh to 750kwh for a 1000 purchase, why are people in the burbs getting 200 – 300kwh for the same amount. This is a serious discussion and one of the most crucial one.
— Unapologetically ProAfrican 🇿🇦🇿🇼🇸🇳🇳🇬 (@Nativeworx) July 27, 2021
Eskom needs to have a direct to consumer model of some sort
This business of buying electricity via 3rd and 4th parties ain’t working
— PACKAGING GUY (@hobo_group) July 27, 2021
I think is time re nnote motlakase cause wow electricity is f**ken expensive 😩😩 https://t.co/W2z17Z3yhg
— 🤍🙏🏾Karabo Modise (@skrabs_m) July 27, 2021
Just bought R500 electricity and it was 172 units. I am sick
— Andile Kuhlekwanele Nzimande (@AndileNzimande_) July 26, 2021
R150 of electricity = 78 units.😢
— Thembi❤🇿🇦🌈 (@Thembi_Mogala) July 28, 2021
Electricity 😓💔 pic.twitter.com/CvOsXwdtn7
— Nonkululeko Madinane kaNkosi (@BabesWesfaca) July 24, 2021
This was last year, today R500 will get you 232.70Kwh. #electricitybill pic.twitter.com/yw6UcYeXMe
— Kwena 💙🇿🇦🏳️🌈🖤 (@kwena) July 26, 2021
Prepaid electricity. https://t.co/7u7ZU4p7Ny
— 🟣 Mihlali.js ⚡️ (@dollarbillrico) July 29, 2021
It’s daylight robbery honestly. Cz I struggle to understand how paying so much for so little units can be justified. Unfortunately some of us suffer in silence and brace ourselves for the worst to come
— Mphoza_The_Bhoza (@MphokuhleM) July 27, 2021
#electricitybill
Can we discuss the small units we get— oscarxolani (@GMH_CEO) July 27, 2021
Eskom needs to be ran by a person who understands Electrical engineering and figure out how Solar energy will sustain all of us.#ClimateAction#Loadshedding#electricitybill https://t.co/TeHLbT8KSX
— Oh So Social 🏪🎱📲 (@KCSeshibe) July 26, 2021
Download Grove Steyn’s Electricity Report to Treasury
