MUNICIPAL BUDGETS
Salga rebukes Lynne Brown over electricity tariff hike delay
The unintended consequence could hit front-line services, as well as creating uncertainty among consumers, parties warn
The South Local Government Association (Salga) has decried a decision by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown to postpone the introduction of new electricity tariff hikes, saying this would be problematic for municipalities’ budget planning. Brown made the request last week, when she asked Parliament to postpone the tabling of the National Energy Regulator of SA’s (Nersa’s) approved 2.2% tariff increase. The DA said on Sunday that the postponement would delay municipalities’ budgeting processes and leave councils open to legal challenges. The unintended consequence would have an adverse effect on front-line services, as well as creating uncertainty among consumers, especially bulk electricity users such as businesses, said the DA. Salga electricity and energy head Nhlanhla Ngidi said: "I’m afraid that the DA’s concerns are also the same as Salga’s concerns and its members. These delays pose serious ramifications for municipalities." Ngidi said municipalities had to factor Eskom t...
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