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Penalties for excessive electricity use
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Full Buanews Article
The regulatory framework, which will enforce the Energy Conservation Programme (ECP) and penalise consumers who use electricity excessively, is being finalised.
"We are finalising a regulatory framework to ensure that our Power Conservation Programme [PCP] is enforced," said Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, Friday.
"This is expected to be finalised by the end of June this year. The regulations provide for sanctions against excessive use and wastage of electricity.
"These sanctions will be in the form of a tariff-based penalty, meaning excessive electricity users will pay more, especially where their excess adversely impacts upon the supply to other users."
The PCP seeks to ensure that South Africa reduces its electricity consumption by at least 3 000 Mega Watts (MW) in the next three years.
Delivering her 2008/09 Budget Vote, the minister said the country was facing an emergency with regard to the generation and supply of electricity.
It is quite clear, she said, that unless drastic interventions and sacrifices are made we are going to be in this emergency situation for many years to come.
"We have established the National Emergency Response Team (NERT), a partnership between government, business, labour and civil society, to mobilise all of us and ensure that, as South Africa Incorporated, we respond in a coordinated manner to the emergency."
The minister highlighted that through the country's collective effort to be more energy conscious and through demand-side management, Eskom has so far been able to conserve at least 100 MW.
An additional 1000 MW saving have been achieved through the energy saving efforts of the industrial sector and local government.
"I would like to specifically thank the mining sector for their contribution to the energy saving campaign," she said.
The Department of Minerals and Energy budget of R3.595 billion for the 2008/9 financial year indicates an increase of 5.21 percent from last year's budget of R2.925 billion of which 0.93 percent was unspent.
The budget includes 79.77 percent that is to be transferred to state-owned entities of which 66.95 percent is set aside for Eskom's national electrification programme.
Ms Sonjica said her department had finalised the Electricity Pricing Policy, and as agreed at the Electricity Summit this year, will be presenting this policy at National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) within the next two weeks.
The newly drafted policy seeks to address the policy gaps that were identified at the Electricity Summit and will also guide the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in their future price determinations.
The intentions of the policy are to set a clear framework on determining electricity prices; achieve an appropriate balance between meeting social equity and economic growth; to create certainty and predictability; and to ensure long-term financial sustainability of the industry.
With regard to the national electrification programme, the absence of bulk infrastructure, especially in rural areas, put a strain on the delivery of the programme said the minister.
"Last year R282 million had to be re-routed from electricity connections funds towards the development of bulk infrastructure, resulting in a reduced number of connections planned for the year.
"We committed ourselves to building ten substations. I am pleased to report that we have completed all but one substation - Zwelethu substation. This was caused by the need to conform to environmental management issues," she said.
This year, once more, R380 million of R1.4 billion allocated for the electrification programme, has been set aside for the building of another 10 substations.
Ms Sonjica has also instructed her department to ensure that by the end of the 2008/09 financial year, all schools throughout the country are electrified.
The regulatory framework, which will enforce the Energy Conservation Programme (ECP) and penalise consumers who use electricity excessively, is being finalised.
"We are finalising a regulatory framework to ensure that our Power Conservation Programme [PCP] is enforced," said Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, Friday.
"This is expected to be finalised by the end of June this year. The regulations provide for sanctions against excessive use and wastage of electricity.
"These sanctions will be in the form of a tariff-based penalty, meaning excessive electricity users will pay more, especially where their excess adversely impacts upon the supply to other users."
The PCP seeks to ensure that South Africa reduces its electricity consumption by at least 3 000 Mega Watts (MW) in the next three years.
Delivering her 2008/09 Budget Vote, the minister said the country was facing an emergency with regard to the generation and supply of electricity.
It is quite clear, she said, that unless drastic interventions and sacrifices are made we are going to be in this emergency situation for many years to come.
"We have established the National Emergency Response Team (NERT), a partnership between government, business, labour and civil society, to mobilise all of us and ensure that, as South Africa Incorporated, we respond in a coordinated manner to the emergency."
The minister highlighted that through the country's collective effort to be more energy conscious and through demand-side management, Eskom has so far been able to conserve at least 100 MW.
An additional 1000 MW saving have been achieved through the energy saving efforts of the industrial sector and local government.
"I would like to specifically thank the mining sector for their contribution to the energy saving campaign," she said.
The Department of Minerals and Energy budget of R3.595 billion for the 2008/9 financial year indicates an increase of 5.21 percent from last year's budget of R2.925 billion of which 0.93 percent was unspent.
The budget includes 79.77 percent that is to be transferred to state-owned entities of which 66.95 percent is set aside for Eskom's national electrification programme.
Ms Sonjica said her department had finalised the Electricity Pricing Policy, and as agreed at the Electricity Summit this year, will be presenting this policy at National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) within the next two weeks.
The newly drafted policy seeks to address the policy gaps that were identified at the Electricity Summit and will also guide the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in their future price determinations.
The intentions of the policy are to set a clear framework on determining electricity prices; achieve an appropriate balance between meeting social equity and economic growth; to create certainty and predictability; and to ensure long-term financial sustainability of the industry.
With regard to the national electrification programme, the absence of bulk infrastructure, especially in rural areas, put a strain on the delivery of the programme said the minister.
"Last year R282 million had to be re-routed from electricity connections funds towards the development of bulk infrastructure, resulting in a reduced number of connections planned for the year.
"We committed ourselves to building ten substations. I am pleased to report that we have completed all but one substation - Zwelethu substation. This was caused by the need to conform to environmental management issues," she said.
This year, once more, R380 million of R1.4 billion allocated for the electrification programme, has been set aside for the building of another 10 substations.
Ms Sonjica has also instructed her department to ensure that by the end of the 2008/09 financial year, all schools throughout the country are electrified.
The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
Allright, what's the limits?
How will they calculate that?
It's fine and dandy waffling about it, but what are the usage limits?
How will they calculate that?
It's fine and dandy waffling about it, but what are the usage limits?
magneto
Senior Member
rofl, now that gonna be funny..
i dont have a pay meter in my place..
they will have to read the normal meter every month. instead of their every couple of months.. and not project my usage on thoery based calculations. and then check and correct the offset of the amount u owe or dont.
if they cant run eskom rite, how they gonna get this rite.
--------------------------------------------------------------
tis will be done on how many kilowatts you consume.. they will set a avarge amount that any give household can consume. if you go over that amount u will be fined..
by paying higher riter per kilowatts.
eg. u pay R5 per kilowatt
your alloted usage amount say is 100kw for household for the month
u go over by 10kw to make a 110kw
u have used a extra 10 more than allowed.
so u will now pay R15 per kilowatt (fined).Penalt for excessive electricity use
i dont have a pay meter in my place..
they will have to read the normal meter every month. instead of their every couple of months.. and not project my usage on thoery based calculations. and then check and correct the offset of the amount u owe or dont.
if they cant run eskom rite, how they gonna get this rite.
--------------------------------------------------------------
tis will be done on how many kilowatts you consume.. they will set a avarge amount that any give household can consume. if you go over that amount u will be fined..
by paying higher riter per kilowatts.
eg. u pay R5 per kilowatt
your alloted usage amount say is 100kw for household for the month
u go over by 10kw to make a 110kw
u have used a extra 10 more than allowed.
so u will now pay R15 per kilowatt (fined).Penalt for excessive electricity use
Last edited:
Freshy-ZN
Executive Member
Yet I still see street lights burning all day in the Durban Metro.
kissingmybbgoodbye
Expert Member
How are they going to be calculating the average
Some people live just by themselves other families live together in a household. It looks clear to me if 2 families live in a household they obviously are using more electricty then a single person. And I know of a family of four living in a 1 bedroom townhouse of 50 sqm and a single person who lives in a 106 sqm townhouse? Obviously the family is going to use a lot more as the single person who is never their anyway
Some people live just by themselves other families live together in a household. It looks clear to me if 2 families live in a household they obviously are using more electricty then a single person. And I know of a family of four living in a 1 bedroom townhouse of 50 sqm and a single person who lives in a 106 sqm townhouse? Obviously the family is going to use a lot more as the single person who is never their anyway
magneto
Senior Member
gov will do what they do best. F u in the A with average.
eg
like telkom 3gigs more then enough bandwithd for user on a 4mb they want need more than that for internet.
Gatecrasher
Executive Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2005
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- 6,727
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Hmm, let me see 3.585/2.925-1 = a whopping 22.56% increase from last year, not 5.21%.
Our national perchant for Chinese Maths seems to be spreading to Government. Or perhaps that's where it came from in the first place.
bekdik
Honorary Master
And what about SOHO? Do they get a "commercial" allocation or simply save 100 of all taxes by going out of business?
LancelotSA
Banned
I see a lot of b_tching here but not much sense being spoken... it is the usual starting to moan as soon as the word Eskom or government is mentioned without actually putting some thought into it.
I personally feel this is exactly the way Eskom should go. Get off your soap boxes for a moment and think about it. I do not see why everyone should be penalised when it is in fact the ones who are using excessive electricity that need to feel the sting! And forgot all of those of you who argue you have a right to use as much electricity as you want and Eskom is obligated to provide it.... bottom line we have a power problem and we need to do something about it!
Now why should a family of three using 500kWh per month be penalised and be subjected to load shedding and hire tariffs when others are using 2000kWh per month. Surely if a resource is scarce then those using more of it must be made to pay.
Someone argued about two families living in a house using more power than a single person... well that is fine, they should be expected to pay more then anyway! They are saving in other areas so why should they score by putting extra pressure on our electricity grid and not paying more for it! Is that house designed for 10 people? They should pay higher rates too!
Actually going back to the point i brought up here earlier about some people having the attitude that if they are paying for the electricity then they can use what they want. Well this is probably the exact attitude that led to this decision being made. By all means use as much as you want but then do not bitch when you need to pay a lot more than those of use who are doing our bit to help out country in this time of need....
I personally feel this is exactly the way Eskom should go. Get off your soap boxes for a moment and think about it. I do not see why everyone should be penalised when it is in fact the ones who are using excessive electricity that need to feel the sting! And forgot all of those of you who argue you have a right to use as much electricity as you want and Eskom is obligated to provide it.... bottom line we have a power problem and we need to do something about it!
Now why should a family of three using 500kWh per month be penalised and be subjected to load shedding and hire tariffs when others are using 2000kWh per month. Surely if a resource is scarce then those using more of it must be made to pay.
Someone argued about two families living in a house using more power than a single person... well that is fine, they should be expected to pay more then anyway! They are saving in other areas so why should they score by putting extra pressure on our electricity grid and not paying more for it! Is that house designed for 10 people? They should pay higher rates too!
Actually going back to the point i brought up here earlier about some people having the attitude that if they are paying for the electricity then they can use what they want. Well this is probably the exact attitude that led to this decision being made. By all means use as much as you want but then do not bitch when you need to pay a lot more than those of use who are doing our bit to help out country in this time of need....
Entirely justified considering the state of the govt and Eskom.
The reality is that the same people that already pay most of the taxes in the country and lets be honest generally don't vote for the ANC are going to be hit again. How about they cut off all the people that don't pay and use illegal connections? That'd be a good start. How about they cut off Zim?
Oil is scarce, everybody pays the same amount per litre of petrol. People that use more still end up paying more.
Actually they're probably putting less pressure on it than if they each lived in 2 separate houses.
Why impose this sort of moral judgement on people? You don't see Vodacom charging more per minute the more you talk do you?
LancelotSA
Banned
Does this make it right? Do you not feel those guys compensating for there small manhood by driving Hummers should not be made to pay more? They are not only using more fuel but also spewing out more emissions but that is a whole new argument which actually applies to those using more electricity too... Why should the fuel model be followed for electricity? Who says it is an ideal model?
Actually they're probably putting less pressure on it than if they each lived in 2 separate houses.
Care to explain? If in two houses they would still have the same number of baths, have lights on in each of their bedrooms, cooking meals will take half the time as the quantities will be smaller... water will boil quicker etc. The point was that if you have 10 people in your house you can't complain when you then get penalised for using more electricity. It needs to be purely consumption based. If you have a house which should sleep 4 but has fifteen in it then you need to pay. Who knows perhaps they will base it on the number of inhabitants in a house? We don't know but that is also the point of my post, everyone is already bitching but the actual method of penalising has not even been publicised yet.
Vodacom airtime is not a scarce resource and it does no harm to anyone else nor the environment if you use millions of minutes per month so this argument holds no validity here.
If you're talking about Pigouvian taxes on carbon and emissions then that's a whole separate issue so lets not go there. Its the same model followed in every market, its called capitalism. If I drink more beer I pay more but the second 6 pack doesn't cost me more than the first.
There'd most probably be efficiency gains from cooking a large quantity of food in one location only having one geyser etc. and there'd be less of an area to light. I disagree with the concept no matter which method is used. What they should do is vary the tariff at different times so that its cheaper to use power in the middle of night etc.
Electricity wouldn't be a scarce resource if Eskom and the government had planned properly or allowed a free market. Electricity is no different from any other commodity.
Do you disagree with cutting off illegal connections and people that don't pay?
LancelotSA
Banned
Of course not..... but at the same time I do have to add that I am pretty sure that the one light bulb that is in all likelihood being lit with that stolen electricity is not putting that much of a strain on the grid.... in fact I am sure one house with it's 40 outside uplights and downlights which are purely for aesthetic reasons has much more of an impact....
And I also do not doubt for a minute that Eskom does make attempts to prevent illegal connections....
There was an article a while ago stating that illegal connections accounted for 8% of demand. That's pretty close to Eskom's required 10%.
LancelotSA
Banned
And did the article go on to say Eskom was happy with this or that they were doing something about it?
LancelotSA
Banned
That does make for interesting reading but as much as others on here question anything said by the incumbent political party, so too do questions have to be asked about information supplied by their opposition!
They do not provide answers as to what Eskom is doing but rather say they will ask questions about what is being done.
Vrotappel
Bulls fan
Eish! What a nice mess the ANC got us into. The fact is that there is no future in this country whilst the ANC is destroying it.