NATIONAL NEWS - Apart from providing for a new transmission system operator and competitive multi-market structure in the electricity supply industry, the newly published Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill also gives more clarity about energy regulator Nersa’s role and expands its mandate and some of its powers.
During his State of the Nation address on Thursday (February 10), President Cyril Ramaphosa described the current electricity supply crisis as “one of the greatest threats to economic and social progress.”
He said there is a shortfall of around 4 000 megawatts (MW), even though Eskom has repeatedly put it at as much as 6 000 MW.
Ramaphosa cited various measures by government to add generation capacity to the grid and stated that Eskom is on track to complete the unbundling of its transmission business at the end of 2022.
“To regulate all of these reforms, cabinet yesterday [February 9] approved amendments to the Electricity Regulation Act for public comment,” he said.
