Concerns over increased electricity costs raised in the Limpopo public hearings on the ERA bill

Johnathan Paoli

Residents of the Sekhukhune District Municipality raised concerns about the possible increase in costs for the consumer under the proposed changes of the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) bill.

The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy conducted public hearings on the bill at the Lutheran Church in Motetema, outside Groblersdal last week.

The bill aims to effect changes to the Electricity Regulation Act, providing for additional electricity generation capacity and infrastructure, as well as the establishment of the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd.

The draft legislation is expected to facilitate an open market platform that will allow for competitive electricity trading; and to assign the duties, powers and functions of the transmission system operator to the National Transmission Company South Africa SOC Ltd.

The Bill received mixed reactions, with those who supported it telling the committee that it would be beneficial to have more electricity companies, help address