Free State Agriculture (FSA) has expressed disgust with approval by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for a 18,65% electricity price hike by Eskom, effective 1 April.
Nersa approved the increase on Thursday (12/01), with a further 12,74% for 2024.
“This is highly unaffordable and amounts to daylight robbery,” said Kempen Nel, farmer and chairperson of the FSA Commercial Affairs Committee.
He said it was dismaying that municipalities owing Eskom more than R56 billion were allowed to simply continue operating as if nothing is amiss.
“They are allowed to raise their resale charges on Eskom by the same percentage, and were doing so at the expense of impoverished consumers,” said Nel.
Nel has warned that sharp increases threaten the ability of the agriculture sector and food security.
