Eskom executives face barrage of questions at Nersa hearings on 20% tariff increase
Acting finance chief Calib Cassim says if the utility does not get the increase it seeks, Treasury — and taxpayers — will have to plug the gap
Eskom executives on Thursday morning had to field a barrage of questions from members of a National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) panel about its 19.9% tariff hike application — which one described as grossly unfair to the South African public. Outside the hearings there was a vocal protest from a small group demanding free electricity for the poor. Nersa has held hearings around the country over the past month to allow businesses and individuals to air their views on the tariff application, which is for an increase of about three times the current consumer price inflation (CPI) rate. The hearings follow several months of shocking allegations of corruption and mismanagement at Eskom’s most senior management levels, resulting in the suspension of several executives. Eskom acting CEO Sean Maritz detailed a number of steps Eskom was taking to improve governance, including protecting whistle-blowers, independent lifestyle audits, terminating irregular supply contracts and taking discip...
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