UTILITIES
It ’ s time to batten down the hatches … and have a plan . Whether this is saving electricity , using it more smartly , or generating their own , South African business and property owners must have a plan now , before the crunch hits .
This is according to Roger Hislop , energy management systems executive at CBI : energy , who says , “ South Africans are understandably shocked by the unprecedented tariff increases that Nersa has approved , with an 18.65 % increase set to take place from April 2023 , and another 12.74 % confirmed for next year .”
“ While this is being couched as ‘ only ’ 18 %, in reality it is a 34 % increase in just over a year ,” he adds . “ This is going to lead to inevitable price increases on everything , driving inflation way past the current 6-7 % which is already crippling growth and job creation .”
Hislop points out that , in addition to this , most municipalities with distribution licenses will also add a higher markup , meaning that come the beginning of April , South Africans
48 FEB 2023 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine