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City Power agrees to payment plan with Eskom

City Power agrees to payment plan with Eskom

TimesLIVE3 days ago

Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday said Johannesburg's City Power will pay R3.2bn over four years to Eskom.
This after a court-ordered mediation process that led to a report by the South African National Energy Development Institute.
An agreement has also been reached for Eskom to write off R830m in penalties and related costs‎‎.

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A massive loan to fix SA's infrastructure will be ineffective if poor governance continues. South Africa has secured a $1.5 billion loan agreement with the World Bank. National Treasury said the purpose of the loan is to fix the country's transport and energy infrastructure, while also helping to boost economic growth. However, poor governance continues to plague South Africa, with the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) Eskom and Transnet serving as glaring examples of this. The unreliability of the power system in certain parts of the country has constrained GDP growth, while ongoing port and rail inefficiencies continue to hamper the performance of the mining and manufacturing sectors. NOW READ: Treasury confirms R27bn World Bank loan to fix infrastructure

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The hidden cost of Eskom's electricity deals with smelters

Eskom, Nersa and the Ministry of Energy & Electricity must explain why energy-intensive smelters deserve these deals – and why other commercial, industrial, manufacturing and mining customers, and ordinary consumers, should foot the bill. A fierce debate has erupted over the preferential electricity pricing deals – known as Negotiated Pricing Agreements (NPAs) – that Eskom has struck with major industrial users like South32's Hillside aluminium smelter and ferrochrome producers. Government insists these deals are vital to protect jobs and exports, but critics say they lack transparency, impose costs on other customers and ordinary consumers, and contradict the principles of a fair and competitive electricity market. Hillside: South Africa's 'congealed electricity' South32's Hillside Aluminium smelter in Richards Bay is one of the largest of its kind globally, and a cornerstone of South Africa's aluminium industry. With no local bauxite reserves, Hillside relies on imported feedstock and vast amounts of electricity – 10.3 TWh per year, around 5.6% of Eskom's total sales. Under the 10-year NPA approved by Nersa in 2021, Hillside pays a discounted rate for electricity that currently amounts to around R10-billion per year less than it would pay on Eskom's standard Megaflex tariff for mines and large industry. The effective discount over the life of the agreement is about 50%. Interruptability vs affordability Eskom justifies this discount by pointing to Hillside's role in stabilising the grid. The smelter's operations can be interrupted briefly during supply shortfalls, providing a form of demand-side flexibility that Eskom can use instead of reserve generation. But according to a recent and critical analysis by Meridian Economics, this function could be replicated – more cheaply – using 1.2 GW of two-hour battery energy storage. 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Polokwane tariff increases effective July 1 – Here's what you'll pay

POLOKWANE – Residents and businesses in Polokwane are reminded that the 2025/26 municipal tariff adjustments will take effect from July 1, with increases implemented across water, electricity, rates, and other essential services. According to the municipality, the adjustments align with national regulatory frameworks and cost increases from bulk suppliers, namely Eskom for electricity and Lepelle Northern Water for water. The approved increases are as follows: Water: Block tariff increase of 10.2% to 11.2% , depending on usage. Electricity: 11.32% increase, as guided by NERSA. Refuse removal, sewer, and other municipal services: 6% increase. Rates and taxes: 3% increase for residential, agricultural, public benefit, and public infrastructure properties 6% increase for business, industrial, mining, and non-permitted land uses The Polokwane Mayor, John Mpe, said the municipality will continue to exercise financial responsibility by not exceeding increases imposed by bulk suppliers. To support vulnerable residents, the municipality will continue its indigent support programme, which includes: 6 kl of free water 100 kWh of free electricity 100% subsidy on sewer and refuse services Full property rate rebate Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said applications for indigent support are open at the Civic Centre and all cluster offices. 'To qualify, applicants must be South African citizens aged 18 or older, earning a combined household income below R5 740 per month,' he said. Required documents include: Copy of ID Proof of income Bank statement (if applicable) Marriage or death certificate (if applicable) For more information, contact the municipal Customer Care Centre on 015 290 2000 or visit At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

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