Consumers are going to be again in for a hard ride come winter.
Eskom confirms that the price increase to be implemented on April 1  to Eskom direct customers is still 12.69% and for municipalities will be 14.25% from July 1 2015 as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) during November 2014.
Eskom’s current financial position, as a result of historical non-cost reflective tariffs and the lag in recovery of eligible expenditure, does not afford Eskom’s balance sheet the ability to pre-fund further costs that are necessitated by a constrained power system such as short term power purchases from independent power producers and municipal generators and the increased use of open cycle gas turbines.

Endumeni Municipality is expected to all on the 14,25% increase to cover cost of maintenance of the municipal power infrastructure. This should be in the new 2015/16 budget.

Motorists can also expect a R2 hike in the petrol price.  If that is not enough, the drought continues to bite with Umzinyathi District Municipality warning residents to drastically cut their water usage.  The UDM recently asked consumers to cut their water consumption to just 15 kl a month.the pamphlet on water savings is based on average consumptions for households made up of normal dwellings and flats/ duplexes.

Pradeep Ramlall of UDM said : ‘Thhe pamphlet on water savings is based on average consumptions for households made up of normal dwellings and flats/ duplexes.

“Human beings can survive on 200 litres per day for a family of 4 or 5. This was achieved in Duran during the drought.  It means intensive water savings and reuse of water at all costs. Umzinyathi is being liberal with allowing 500 litres per day bearing in mind we have no alternatives but to save as best as we can. It is the right thing  to do all the time irrespective of the size of the households.”