The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has called on stakeholders wanting to make oral presentations on Eskom’s sixth multiyear price determination (MYPD6) to submit their requests to do so immediately.

Nersa is gearing up to conduct nationwide public hearings on the revenue application from November 18  until  December 4, starting in Cape Town and concluding in Gauteng.

As has been widely reported, Eskom is requesting allowable revenue of R446-billion for 2025/26, R495-billion for 2026/27 and R537-billion for 2027/28.

If approved it will result in an increase to the standard tariff of 36.15% on April 1 next year, followed by 11.91% and 9.1% 2026 and 2027.

Opposition to the application is expected to be fierce from business, labour and civil society, particularly given the difficulties households are having in adjusting to the higher cost of living following the economic shock of Covid.

In addition, Eskom’s own shareholder Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has described the proposed increases as unaffordable and untenable, while the Government of National Unity has set dealing with the high cost of living as one of its three apex priorities.

Nersa set a closing date of November 1 for written submissions and has requested those wanting to make oral representations to email their requests to publichearings@nersa.org.za by 15:30 on November 8.

Once the public hearings have been wrapped up, Nersa says the Energy Regulator, its highest decision-making structure, will make a determination on December 20.