Bay Chamber’s response to Nersa’s electricity tariffs announcement:
Nelson Mandela Business Chamber 12/02/2025 Antoinette Panton
“We are relieved that the National Energy Regulator has approved an increase of 12.7% for the 2025/26 period, below the 36% requested.
“However, this almost doubles the inflation rate and will drive inflation in other areas such as food and fuel, as well as increase the overall cost of operating businesses in the country.”
“While there has been good progress in stabilising electricity supply, with no loadshedding taking place over 10 months, Eskom still has significant sustainability challenges which it needs to address.
“Key among these is that municipalities owe the power utility over R90 billion, and electricity supply at a municipal level has been inefficient due to vandalism, illegal tampering, incorrect billing and various other issues. This, in turn, has resulted in a lack of investment, at a municipal level, in the maintenance and upgrading of electricity infrastructure,” says Denise van Huyssteen, chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
