|
Editors query Eskom 'secrets'
09/04/2008 22:35 - (SA)
Johannesburg - South African editors have questioned Eskom's insistence on keeping secret some sections of its application for tariff hikes.
The SA National Editors Forum (Sanef) said on Wednesday: "Eskom seeks to destroy the public's right to know about matters which will significantly increase the cost of electricity."
Sanef called on the National Electricity Regulator of SA (Nersa) to insist that the entire Eskom submission be opened to the public.
Eskom was granted permission on Monday by Nersa to have "commercially sensitive" information on its proposed 53% tariff increase application withheld from the public.
Nersa made an edited version of Eskom's application available on its website on Tuesday for public comment and subsequent hearings.
Sanef said it was "disturbed" that the power utility wanted to maintain secrecy about certain submissions contained in its application.
Eskom said the secrecy it was requesting was related to coal-purchase contracts.
"According to media reports, some years ago Eskom benefited from highly favourable contracts which enabled it to maintain cheap electricity tariffs.
'Keeping information from public'
"Subsequently, it manipulated those contracts in such a way that those cost advantages disappeared, resulting in the latest request for an exorbitant tariff increase," said Sanef.
The forum said that in the light of these circumstance the utility, by maintaining secrecy about certain aspects of the "rationale" for its tariff-increase application, could be keeping important information about its conduct of affairs from the public.
Sanef said: "The provision of electricity is a vital public service and the increase sought is several times higher than the amount Eskom originally intended requesting, which, itself, was double the inflation rate."
Eskom was granted a 14.2% tariffs hike by Nersa late last year, instead of the 18% it initially had applied for 2008/'09 financial year.
|
News
