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Eskom keeps info under wraps
07/04/2008 16:19 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The National Electricity Regulator of SA has given Eskom permission to have "commercially sensitive" information on its proposed 53% tariff increase withheld from publication, Nersa said on Monday.
"It is information that Eskom feels is commercially sensitive - just a paragraph here and there that needs to be taken out," said Nersa spokesperson Charles Hlebela.
The entire tariff application was to have been posted on the Nersa website for public comment and subsequent hearings.
Instead, the amended version will be posted on the Nersa website on Tuesday afternoon, he said.
Eskom could not comment immediately on the reasons for the application, but trade union Solidarity accused the power utility of lack of transparency in making the confidentiality application.
Legal recourse
Solidarity said that last week it applied in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (2 of 2000) for the disclosure of the confidential report, but it was rejected after Eskom argued that the report will be published on the Nersa website.
"If the full report is not published tomorrow, we shall ask for reasons before weighing further legal remedies," said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.
"Eskom's lack of transparency is clear from its request, but the public is entitled to the full motivation for the high increase," he said.
An audit report, commissioned by Solidarity, of the application, will be published in early May, Kleynhans said.
On March 18 Eskom handed in its application to the regulator's electricity sub-committee. It was granted a 14.2% increase at the end of last year but is now seeking a 53% hike amid a national electricity crisis.
- Sapa
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