The Estcourt Town Hall was the venue to discuss the 2015/2015 electricity and rates tariffs.
Although less than 20 people attended, the meeting forged ahead.
Umtshezi Municipal Manager Nonhlanhla Njoko welcomed everyone and said the reason for the meeting was to keep the line of communication between customers and the municipality open.
She called the tariff increase a “thorny subject” due to its financial implications but added that when preparing the budget, the impact on customers and businesses was taken into consideration.
“The good news is that we are not going beyond Eskom’s increase and there is no increase in the 2014/2015 rates,” said Ms Njoko before handing over the meeting to Senior Manager (Planning) in the electrical department Cyril Moodley.
He announced that all customers, residential and commercial, could expect a 7.39 percent increase in electricity tariffs.
His short presentation demonstrated the tariff charges in relation to the inclined block tariff, which basically translates to the more you use, the more you pay.
The meeting was concluded with questions from residents regarding prepaid electricity and implementing the time of use method for residential customers.
The presentation will be available on the municipality’s website www.umtshezi.co.za