Only a few months after the people of Zolani and Phaphamani celebrated the installation of electricity in their homes, they are now voicing their discontent because they say that the municipality is charging them unfairly high tariffs.
Only a few months after the people of Zolani and Phaphamani celebrated the installation of electricity in their homes, they are now voicing their discontent because they say that the municipality is charging them unfairly high tariffs.
Residents found out from people in the neighbouring township, Xolani, that is literally a field away from Zolani, that if they buy electricity from the municipality it is considerably more expensive than if one purchases electricity directly from Eskom. People in Xolani can purchase electricity from Eskom, yet people in Zolani and Phaphamani can't.
When Phaphamani resident Nolukhanyo Dibela buys R20 of pre-paid electricity through the Makana Municipality, she said that she receives about 14 units. But if she were to buy directly from Eskom, the same amount would get her closer 26 units, she said.
“We were never told that we will buy electricity directly from the municipality, and now it costs us more,” complained Dibela, who is one of many residents who are not happy about the high tariffs.
“We’re requesting that we can buy electricity directly from Eskom. All we want is the much lower Eskom rates for electricity,” said another resident Sizwe Ralo.
Makana Municipality spokesperson Thandy Matebese confirmed that the municipality's electricity tariffs are higher than Eskom's, but he said they are determined by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).
He explained that every year electricity suppliers are analysed by Nersa to determine their financial and technical ability. After such an evaluation the tariffs are adjusted and approved by Nersa accordingly, Matebese told Grocott's Mail
He said the electricity suppliers differ in many respects, financially and technically, which results in the difference in tariffs between the municipalities themselves, as well as between the municipalities and Eskom.
