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Electricity tariffs in the spotlight again

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the reaction to a R54-billion behind-closed-doors settlement agreement between the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and power utility Eskom, which will result in Eskom’s electricity tariffs increasing by more than initially approved by Nersa.
September 5, 2025 by

Solar panel lifting product simplifies solar system installation

The solar energy market is surging in South Africa – particularly in the commercial and industrial sectors – as businesses seek cost-effective, sustainable solutions to manage rising electricity costs. For this reason, solar power has become an increasingly attractive investment. While loadshedding has eased in recent months, energy costs remain high, prompting companies operating in agriculture, engineering, and manufacturing to turn to rooftop solar to manage long-term operational expenses.
September 5, 2025 by

Solar trade bolsters supply, promotes cost-efficiency

The growing trade of solar power by independent power producers (IPPs) is playing a pivotal role in South Africa’s rapidly deregulating electricity market. By diversifying the energy mix and increasing competition for the State-owned power utility, solar trading is setting the stage for a cleaner, more cost-efficient grid. “Trade in solar energy has laid the groundwork for a more open and competitive electricity market, shifting away from a single-buyer model towards a dynamic, multi-actor environment that supports competitive pricing,” says Enerweb CEO Santego Govender, whose company specialises in digital solutions for energy markets.
September 5, 2025 by

EMS solutions reduce grid pressure, enhance supply

Innovations in solar energy, such as off-grid energy solutions company Blockpower’s Blackbox, an energy management system (EMS), allow for energy savings and cost-efficiency, as well as system longevity for households, businesses and heavy-duty industries, says Blockpower engineering head Timothy Mahlangu. An EMS offers several benefits, including optimising surplus solar energy through intelligent hot-water control solutions and managing high inrush consumption by staggering equipment startup. This is particularly appropriate for South African households and hospitality industries, as it helps ease the load on the national grid, which is frequently unable to keep up with increasing demand and ensure the timely provision of electricity.
September 5, 2025 by

Subscriptions-based power model helps shore up energy security

Solar energy solutions company GoSolr is giving schools and small- and medium-sized businesses access to subscription-based solar power, thereby reducing their reliance on the national grid for power supply. GoSolr CEO Andrew Middleton says that it is important for South Africa to increase the percentage of solar-based generation in its energy mix, as this will ensure that businesses can avert the negative effects of increased tariffs and the unreliability and carbon emissions associated with supply from State-owned power utility Eskom.
September 5, 2025 by

Renewables investments bolster growth despite dim infrastructure outlook

As South Africa grapples with ongoing electricity shortages and a heavy reliance on ageing coal-fired power plants, renewable energy remains critical to ensuring long-term energy security and economic stability. With a strong secondary market emerging for renewable-energy assets, strategic investment and successful exits are becoming increasingly important in shaping the future of the country’s energy landscape.
September 5, 2025 by

New independent directors must be appointed for Necsa board to be quorate

Following the resignation of five board members from the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) last week, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will need to appoint new independent directors to ensure that the board is quorate. Necsa chairperson Dave Nicholls, who has not resigned, confirmed with Engineering News that the five individuals resigned because of their unhappiness with the implementation of salary increases for senior executives.
September 4, 2025 by

Mavuso slams Eskom’s tariff system as ‘farcical’, calls for urgent electricity sector reform

There is no greater sign of the urgent need for reform of the electricity sector than the way State-owned utility Eskom’s electricity tariffs are set, Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso has asserted. “The whole system is far from the way prices should be set – through a competitive market in which firms aim to sell to consumers by offering them better value than others,” she said in the latest edition of her weekly newsletter, published on September 1.
September 1, 2025 by

Public hearings to be held on NTCSA’s application for electricity market operator licence

A public hearing into the National Transmission Company South Africa’s (NTCSA’s) application for a market operator licence will be hosted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on September 30. The licensing of the NTCSA as the independent market operator is viewed as a key milestone for the launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM), which has been tentatively set for April next year.
September 1, 2025 by