You could pay more for electricity
An economist feels it's unclear whether an electricity price hike could be on the cards.
Eskom has applied to the National Energy Regulator to have the cost of power pushed up so that it can recoup a R22.8-billion bill for overspending.
The parastatal says there has been higher electricity demand. Economist Dawie Roodt says although an increase in the cost of electricity is very likely, the adjustment is not too far from a mere guess.
"Neither Eskom nor Nersa know what the price of oil is going to be or the supply and demand of electricity because nobody can see into the future. What is probably going to happen is that Nersa is going to give Eskom an increase.
"It simply means that you and I are going to pay more. It will add to the inflation rate and this will be bad for the economy," he said.
Nersa is expected to make its announcement on the application early next year.
(File photo: Gallo Images)