Eskom’s Greed-Fueled Tariff Hikes: Nersa’s Blind Eye
A senior official at South Africa’s energy regulator, Nersa, has blown the lid off the body’s complicity in Eskom’s six-fold price hike over the past 15 years. Nhlanhla Gumede, Nersa’s head of electricity regulation, has revealed that the regulator’s outdated pricing methodology has allowed Eskom to fleece consumers and rake in profits from its mistakes.
In a scathing interview with the Sunday Times, Gumede exposed Nersa’s failure to balance the interests of Eskom, consumers, and the supply industry. He accused the regulator of ignoring the utility’s mismanagement and corruption, which has led to consumers paying for Eskom’s mistakes, including the bloated cost of its newest coal-fired power plant.
Nersa’s Whitewash
In a desperate attempt to distance itself from Gumede’s explosive revelations, Nersa issued a statement claiming that his views don’t represent the regulator’s interpretations and decisions. But the damage is done. Gumede’s words have laid bare Nersa’s complicity in Eskom’s price gouging, and the regulator’s attempt to spin this as a personal opinion is laughable.
Eskom’s Tariff Hike Application
Eskom has applied for tariff increases in the 2025/2026, 2026/2027, and 2027/2028 financial years. But with Nersa’s regulatory failures exposed, it’s clear that the utility is simply trying to line its pockets with more profits from unsuspecting consumers.
The Truth Will Out
As the monopoly on electricity distribution ends, the truth about Nersa’s complicity in Eskom’s price hikes will come to light. The people of South Africa deserve transparency and accountability from their energy regulator. Anything less is a betrayal of the public trust.
Read More:
Eskom’s Monopoly is Ending – Here’s What Happens Next
