The draft Evaluation of Electrical energy Pricing Coverage (EPP), which has been revealed for public remark, seeks to supply pointers to the Nationwide Power Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for a standardised, non-discriminatory strategy to electrical energy pricing in a context of an electrical energy provide trade “quickly transitioning” away from its monopoly construction to 1 that’s market primarily based.
The doc, the discharge of which was accredited by Cupboard final week, was Gazetted by Mineral Sources and Power Minister Gwede Mantashe on February 10, with a 30-day remark interval.
It has been revealed in opposition to the backdrop of a steep improve in electrical energy costs over the previous 15 years, in addition to the prospect of one more double-digit hike from April, elevating critical affordability considerations for households and companies alike.
After approving its launch, Cupboard stated the revised EPP sought to strike a stability between offering inexpensive electrical energy tariffs for low-income shoppers and a cost-reflective electrical energy tariff for all different shoppers.
The theme of cost-reflectivity is, in reality, emphasised all through the 124-page doc, which states that tariffs ought to turn into cost-reflective in 5 years from adoption, despite the fact that the three-year timeframe outlined within the authentic EPP of 2008 was not met.
“All tariffs ought to turn into cost-reflective over the subsequent 5 years, aside from particular cross subsidies as supplied for,” the evaluation states.
The cross subsidies ought to tackle sure socioeconomic and environmental wants and the draft EPP proposes that the Division of Minerals Useful resource and Power (DMRE), along with Nersa, finalise a nationwide subsidy framework to information the applying of such subsidies and to make sure transparency.
The doc additionally supply an in depth exposition of the distinction between power, capability and ancillary service cost and the way this ought to be utilized.
It additionally makes the case for the implementation of time of use tariffs and states that “net-energy billing” ought to be allowed, topic to any licensing or registration required by regulation and in compliance with Nersa guidelines.
Additionally included is a place stating that Nersa “shall present a framework to information the standardisation of current electrical energy distributors’ tariff constructions”.
The EPP was Gazetted concurrently with the Electrical energy Regulation Modification Invoice, which offers for a shift to a aggressive multimarket electrical energy provide trade.
The Invoice additionally caters for the institution of a Transmission System Operator (TSO), which might be accountable for operation and growth of the bodily transmission community, in addition to that of the function of system and market operator.
The preamble to the Invoice states that the proposed laws seeks to determine a nationwide regulatory framework for the electrical energy provide trade, make Nersa the custodian and enforcer of that regulatory framework and to cater for the institution of the TSO, to supply a aggressive multimarket construction.
As is the case with the EPP, and affected events have 30 days to submit written feedback to the DMRE.