afrol News, 28 July - Mayor of South Africa's commercial city has asked residents and industries to expect an electricity hike this week.

Mayor Amos Masondo told journalists that Johannesburg would approve Exkom's 20% electricity tariff at its next council meeting. This will follow the implementation of the tariff on 1 August.

"This increase is a direct result of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (NERSA) decision to allow Eskom to levy an additional increase of 13.3% on its customers on the already approved 14.2% increase," he said.

Except poor consumers whose additional increase in tariffs will be covered by the council, all other structures, including boarding houses, hostels, caravan parks, industries, private houses and dwelling units are expected to taste the high tariffs.

"This basically means that we must find ways of saving and bringing hope to Johannesburg," Zimu said.

But the Managing Director of City Power Silas Ziumu said the more consumers used electricity, the more will pay for it.

A councilor and member of the mayoral committee for infrastructure and service said the tariffs would "help people" because they "seem punitive, but it is simply to force people to use less electricity." Councilor Roslynn Greeff as such load-shedding will be avoided.

She said the measure will ensure that the city is free from the energy giant's load-shedding, which will allow it to accomplished its "mitigating projects".

By staff writer

© afrol News

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