OPINION - Load shedding in South Africa became a pressing issue in late 2007, with Eskom blaming the crisis on ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, as well as the inability to meet the rising demand.
The latter was confirmed in a News24 report (18 January 2008), ascribing the crisis to a ‘failure to anticipate the rapid economic growth of the early 2000s’, which significantly increased electricity consumption.
Unfortunately, years of underinvestment in new power generation further exacerbated this situation.
By 2008, rolling blackouts were common, as Eskom implemented rotational load shedding to prevent a grid collapse. Its coal-fired plants, the backbone of South Africa’s energy supply, frequently broke down due to inadequate maintenance.
Corruption and mismanagement at Eskom seemed to further deepen the crisis, as was revealed by a Daily Maverick investigation (15 February 2019).
In response to these failures, Eskom urged the public to reduce electricity consumption and explore alternative energy sources.
In a statement published by The Citizen (10 April 2023), the utility emphasised the role of decentralised energy solutions – particularly solar power – in alleviating pressure on the grid.
Recognising the need to encourage solar adoption, the South African government even introduced a subsidy programme in early 2023. BusinessTech (22 March 2023) reported that homeowners could claim tax rebates of up to R15 000 for installing solar systems, while businesses could deduct 125% of their solar investment from taxable income.
This initiative aimed to reduce reliance on Eskom’s overburdened grid and accelerate a shift to renewable energy – because at that stage it suited them.
However, in a move that strongly contradicts earlier incentives, Eskom has recently proposed implementing tariffs for grid-connected solar users. According to Fin24 (5 December 2024), the utility plans to introduce a ‘feed-in’ tariff and additional charges, arguing that these measures are necessary to maintain grid infrastructure and to balance supply and demand.
My fellow South Africans, how is this not penalising households for their cooperating response to Eskom and the governments’ respective pleads for help; and although Eskom proposes a tiered-based system on solar installation size and energy consumption, how do we, from here on forward, trust Eskom to effectively and efficiently implement such a system – based on their history of inefficiency and mismanagement?
These issues raise a crucial ethical question for me. For an organisation to conduct business in an ethically responsible way, is to consider a good (and equal) outcome for both the self (Eskom), and the other (its users).
With Eskom prioritising its financial survival over anything and anyone else, I fail to see either a good or equal outcome for the South African citizen.
This step, in fact, further tips the scale in the favour of an organisation who publishes their grand ‘values’ on their official website, but do not follow through on them.
On the other end, solar power offers undeniable benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced energy security. Engineering News (12 July 2023) highlighted that solar installations can significantly cut household energy bills while contributing to a more reliable energy system, yet, Eskom wishes to add a price tag to those relieving grid pressure, in the same breath discouraging citizens to further invest in renewable energy.
From where I sit, South Africa’s energy crisis remains a delicate balancing act between economic, environmental, and social priorities – and I am well aware that I do not have the right answers.
As citizens of this country, though, we are allowed to ask:
- Where is the fairness in changing a policy that only serves one party?
- Who is involved in the drafting of these policies – are they experienced – do they understand our social landscape?
- Why would Eskom penalise the same people who aimed to support and alleviate pressure from them during an extremely difficult time for this country?
Unfortunately, we see the writing on the wall – and Eskom is failing to erase its spelling errors. What would it take for them to realise that its continued destructive trajectory might all the well lead them to an irreversible end…
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Group Editors and its publications.
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