Not long ago, Eskom promised us a warm winter.
A cold front over Gauteng and last night (the coldest night of 2008) we were blacked out for 8 hours. Of course, we're committed to saving electricity afterall we are the ones that suffer the power outages (which despite all promises, still happen without notice).
Even as we implement energy saving measures, Winter is coming...
The fact is that South African homes need additional heating during winter because our houses are not built to retain energy well. And we can expect extremely cold weather this winter if global weather patterns (and last winter's experience) are anything to go by.
Now ESKOM is warning that we'll be penalised even more, over and above the 14,2% increase and the 2c per kWh levy introduced by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. If your supply area's total consumption isn't reduced by 10% (not sure if that's calculated per day/week/month) you will be penalised daily.
And the latest news... Eskom is appealing to the National Energy Regulator for a further double digit increase over and above the 14.2% already approved by the regulator.
Looks like it's going to be a chilly winter in our homes and for our disposable income (this on the back of rising interest rates, increases in prices of fuel, food, etc).
Still the insensitive heads of Eskom have the gall to defend their hefty "performance" bonuses and possible share options of R10 million. What rot!
How do we confront this?
I'm just wondering, by what authority (legally speaking), do Eskom (and government), have the right to impose the plethora of penalties on consumers, when electricity supply is monopolised by a state entity which has dictated demand?
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