Do Not Use Rolling Blackouts As Bargaining Tool For More Money, DA Warns Eskom

Riyaz Patel

The DA believes that embattled power utility Eskom is “more concerned about funding Eskom’s deteriorating operations than the actual job of making it a profitable, efficient and stable energy producer.”

This, after Eskom said it will cut up to 2000 megawatts of power from the national grid Wednesday due to a shortage of generating capacity, starting at 9am.

The power cut announcement follows Eskom’s decision to drag national energy regulator Nersa to court, challenging its decision in March which allowed for tariff increases below what Eskom was seeking.

Also on Inside Politic: Eskom Says Energy Regulator’s Tariff Hikes Not Enough, Seeking Court Intervention

“The DA warns Eskom against using rolling blackouts as a bargaining tool for more money,” said DA MP Natasha Mazzone.

The rand, meanwhile, slipped more than 1% Wednesday to its softest level in a week after Eskom nationwide blackout announcement for the first time in