Imposing wind turbines and expansive solar farms dot the landscape around the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality, a sign that large strides are being made in generating clean energy. But what perplexes the residents of the municipality is that they continue to suffer the same debilitating load shedding schedule as everyone else.
This was the view of many residents of the municipality during the second day of public hearings on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill held at the De Aar Town Hall. The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources is conducting nationwide public hearings on the Bill, which seeks to introduce energy sector reforms that will resolve many of our current electricity challenges.
The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill aims to effect amendments to the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006, to improve the administration of the Act; to provide for additional electricity, new generation capacity and electricity infrastructure; to provide for the establishment, duties, powers, and functions of the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd.
It will also provide for an open-market platform that will allow for competitive electricity trading; and to assign the duties, powers, and functions of the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd to the National Transmission Company South Africa SOC Ltd.
“We have imposing wind turbines and large solar farms, but we suffer the same fate as many South Africans with heavy load shedding. I can argue that we experience an even heavier load shedding as sometimes we go to sleep, and then wake up without any electricity. Currently my appliances that have burned down include my fridge, my TV and microwave and, unfortunately, I am poor and don’t have the money to replace them,” said Ms Nosipho Khowa. She supports the Bill, she said, because of the hope that it will resolve the current challenge.
There were also divergent views on the future of Eskom, with some participants saying the utility company must be privatised, as governance of state-owned entities has failed many South Africans. Participants highlighted that privatisation was the only remedy to ensure constant energy supply. Others were more cautious about privatization, saying it will increase energy prices because private companies are solely interested in profit and will make electricity unaffordable to the poor.
As in the hearings in Upington, participants embraced the insertion of provisions on offences and penalties for contraventions of the Act. There was a unanimous acknowledgement that cable theft must be classified as a criminal offence and has direct cost implication for households and for municipal and Eskom infrastructure. As a result, participants called for harsher sentences beyond the five years proposed in the Bill.
The committee welcomed the comments made in De Aar and assured participants that their views are important and will serve to strengthen the Bill. The committee will today hold the third public hearing at the Wrenchville hall in Kuruman from 10am.
Malatswa Molepo
26 October 2023
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