Cape Town Mayor praises court ruling on NERSA tariff timelines

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has hailed a recent court decision regarding the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) as a positive step for residents in municipalities across the country. The ruling mandates NERSA to make swifter decisions on municipal electricity tariffs.

Hill-Lewis welcomed the decision after the City of Cape Town made recommendations to the North Gauteng High Court to revise NERSA's timeframes. This followed an application initially brought by AfriForum.

The court has ordered NERSA to adhere to the following deadlines:

Inform municipalities of the increases granted to Eskom by the 31st of January each year.

Finalise decisions on all municipal tariff applications by the 5th of May each year.

Mayor Hill-Lewis stated that this will lead to greater benefits for residents:

"This will deliver benefits to all residents across South Africa, who will benefit from more transparency in electricity tariff-setting decisions."

He also highlighted the advantages for local government, noting that municipalities will no longer have to wait for NERSA's decisions after the new financial year has already begun.

"NERSA will now have to stick to the timelines set by the court, which was proposed by the City."