Electricity users to dig deeper in their pockets

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Gushesh

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MANY consumers are not aware how deep they will have to dig into their pockets to finance electricity.

Two months ago Eskom implemented the new Nersa tariffs, which is more like a move from incorrect billing to ripping consumers off under the guise of their now overusing electricity.

They have capped electricity consumption to a maximum of R250 a month.

Once consumers exceed this cut-off limit they are classified as excessive users.

Johannesburg mayor Packs Tau will also be faced with the mammoth challenge of encouraging consumers to convert to the prepaid system, given the manner in which consumers are charged in line with Nersa tariffs.

Consumer Line thought it best to simplify these tariffs for you.

With the new tariff system consumers are limited to a maximum of electricity worth R250 a month. This equals to 337 kilowatts you are expected to consume a month.

If you are classified as an underpaid consumer you get a free 50 kilowatts over and above the 337 units you have to buy.

Assume you use 20 kilowatts a day you will be forced to go back to Eskom to buy more electricity because these units will not last the entire month.

In the minds of Nersa and Eskom you are overusing electricity and for that you will be charged 75c a kilowatt instead of 65c on your second purchase. This worsens by the week because the charges increase.

For example, if you buy electricity worth R100 in the first week of the month, you get 139 kilowatts. In the second week, the units reduce to 132 kilowatts and 115 kilowatts in the third week.

By the time you buy in the fourth week this will have shrunk to 95,1 units for the same amount.

Eskom confirmed that the more consumers buy electricity the more the supply will shrink.

"In short. the more you use the higher you pay," said Bandile Jack, a sales and customer services regional manager at Eskom.

Jack said this was a Nersa decision and Eskom was only implementing what they were regulated to do.

"The aim is to encourage us to save electricity," Jack said.

Tshilidzi Netshifhefhe, a mother of two, said: "How can Eskom say we will save more when their units shrink every time you buy?"

George Hadebe, a father of five, said the tips on how to save electricity will not help clients if they don't get value for their money.

"I bought electricity worth R400 but did not get units that matched my money. These people are stealing from us," Hadebe complained.

He said Eskom did not consult them or bothered to find out what their consumption was before capping the usage at R250 a month.

"In fact, I only got to know about this limit after I queried about the missing units," Hadebe said.

A 79-year-old blind Thomas Mbulayeni, who is a caregiver for his 7 orphaned grand-children, said pensioners were the hardest hit.

"You cannot avoid being labelled an overuser because Nersa and Eskom have limited consumption to R250 a month, concurred Robert Tshabalala.

Muhope Lekoloane said her family was unable to even cook samp or mala le mogodu anymore.

"It takes up to four hours to cook the two and that is a poor man's lavish meal," she said.

Said Jack: "The bottom line is that the rest of South Africa pays the same tariffs.

"At some stage someone has to pay for what is delivered and the problems experienced will not go away on their own. Sowetans need to make a decision.

"Remember Nersa is our regulator and we only implement their decision. I would suggest you take it up with them as it would seem as if we are defying authority from the regulator."

He also suggested that consumers should change to a solar system to to avoid the high electricity tariffs.

"I can tell you that the geyser uses between 40 to 50 percent of energy, so changing to solar would help a lot. Cooking is the next, followed cooling storage," Jack said.

Consumers who are on pre-paid will able to avoid accumulating debt but would have to dig a little deeper to foot their electricity bills.
Those who have electricity readily available, will find themselves deeper in debts because they have an unlimited supply of electricity if they do not use Eskom's tips on how to save electricity.
Nersa introduced an inclining block tariff system in 2009. If you buy electricity a month these are the applicable rates:

Block 1 less or equal to 50kWh you are charged 65,72c/k/Wh

Block 2 greater than 50kWh and less or equal to 350 kWh you are charged 75,42 c/k/Wh

Block 3 greater than 351 kWh and less or equal to 600 kWh you are charged 109,50c /k/Wh

Block 4 greater than 600kWh 120,10c/k/Wh
Click to expand...

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/helpline/2011/07/11/electricity-users-to-dig-deeper-in-their-pockets
 
Energy costs are going thro the roof all over the world. With the Germans scrapping their nuclear plants, the Japanese not likely to build more, the demand for oil, gas and coal has skyrocketed,

Here in the UK, I have a 18% increase coming in Aug, courtesy of British Gas.
 
I Know people that make a fire on a daily basis for cooking things like rice and pap.

Wood is cheaper, if not free (in some places).
 
zippy said:
Energy costs are going thro the roof all over the world. With the Germans scrapping their nuclear plants, the Japanese not likely to build more, the demand for oil, gas and coal has skyrocketed,

Here in the UK, I have a 18% increase coming in Aug, courtesy of British Gas.
Click to expand...

We have a guaranteed 25% (or more) per year for the next couple of years...
 
If you are classified as an underpaid consumer you get a free 50 kilowatts over and above the 337 units you have to buy.
Click to expand...

I'm an underpaid consumer... Wow 250... Just the fees before getting to the usage is over 250 for me...
 
zippy said:
Energy costs are going thro the roof all over the world. With the Germans scrapping their nuclear plants, the Japanese not likely to build more, the demand for oil, gas and coal has skyrocketed,

Here in the UK, I have a 18% increase coming in Aug, courtesy of British Gas.
Click to expand...

I would not mind a 18% increase.
 
And Eskom has JUST given their staff massive salary increases...I love how we're being $cr3w3d! NOT! :mad:
 
OMFG...It just hit me. NOW I know why people have a fireplace!! All you do is get some wood and your house will heat up, no need to pay jack!

All this time I was thinking, man, fire places are like for old people and old houses...but with these crazy prices, I will for sure be buying houses with at least 2 fireplaces!
 
VioAdmin said:
OMFG...It just hit me. NOW I know why people have a fireplace!! All you do is get some wood and your house will heat up, no need to pay jack!

All this time I was thinking, man, fire places are like for old people and old houses...but with these crazy prices, I will for sure be buying houses with at least 2 fireplaces!
Click to expand...

Can you spell deforestation? Where will all the wood come from if world+dog in Gauteng decide to have a fireplace?
 
zippy said:
Energy costs are going thro the roof all over the world. With the Germans scrapping their nuclear plants, the Japanese not likely to build more, the demand for oil, gas and coal has skyrocketed,

Here in the UK, I have a 18% increase coming in Aug, courtesy of British Gas.
Click to expand...

The difference is. In the UK you actually have POWER. We pay to sit without the **** most of the time!!! Im getting so fed up with this country and the kak that runs it!!!!
 
Eskom must be the only company in South Africa that actively discourages you from buying more of their product. And Vodacom Data too of course.
 
sheesh, we already have a solar geyser installed, and it has helped bring down our usage to 450 units. So I suppose we now have to look at getting solar panels for some of the other things running, plus solar lights just so we don't have to pay fines. :(
 
I didnt read the whole article (Im at work), so forgive me if it is addressed - how is this fair to say, my family, where there are 7 of us (including a domestic worker and gardener) who live on the property and therefore we will naturally use more electricity than one person living alone
 
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