Launched on 8^th May 2013, the smart report is available. Contact info@thegreenconnection.org.za for a copy.

SMART critiqued the government’s electricity plan (IRP2010), providing a SMART solution that increased energy efficiency, adding more solar and wind energy which increases jobs and keeps the cost of electricity down.

A SMART revolution addresses energy poverty, improves environmental quality, and keeps the lights on now and into the future.

MIND THE GAP SERIES ON A NEW DISCUSSION PAPER

YOU CAN’T EAT ELECTRICITY: HUNGER, INEQUALITY AND LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

DATE: 28 MAY 2013, 5.30PM

VENUE: THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE ROOM, OLD FORT CONFERENCE CENTRE, CONSTITUTION HILL, 11 KOTZE STREET, JOHANNESBURG , 2000

RSVP: BASHEERAH MOHAMED, bmohamed@oxfam.org.uk BY FRIDAY, 24 MAY 2013

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT RULLESKA SINGH, rsingh@oxfam.org.uk

FOR DIRECTIONS VISIT www.constitutionhill.org.za

PARKING IS AVAILABLE ON JOUBERT STREET ENTRANCE, LEVEL C

 SPEAKERS:

CECIL MORDAN, CHIEF DIRECTOR: ECONOMICS TAX ANALYSIS, NATIONAL TREASURY

NDIVILE MOKOENA, GENDER CC & THE WOMAN ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM (WECCF)

LIZ MCDAID, INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHER

FACILITATOR: MS NANCY RICHARDS

WELCOME DRINKS AND FINGER FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE ON ARRIVAL

PLEASE FORWARD THIS INVITATION TO OTHERS IN YOUR NETWORK

A repeat will be broadcast on Thursday 7^th February at 07:00.

Don’t miss this programme!!

Energy hikes spell hard times for poorer households

Civil society, NGO’s and CBO’s attended workshops in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg to assist in preparation for the NERSA hearings which will be held countrywide.

See relevant and informative documents below for your information.

Energy Policy Timeline

MYPD Cape Town workshop preparation for NERSA

MYPD3 submission – EGI-SA Nov2012

Preparation for NERSA DBN workshop

Smart Demand

Submission to NERSA from SAFCEI

What is ESKOM asking for?

ESKOM slammed at public hearing

MONEYWEB

NERSA holds SA’s future in its hands

SAFCEI is part of the Electricity Governance Initiative (EGI-SA).

NERSA MYPD3 presentation 15 January 2013 – Cape Town

Consumer cost escalations of more than a 100% in the next few years is a main feature of Eskom’s latest application to NERSA (NATIONAL ELECTRICITY REGULATOR OF SA).  NERSA’s provincial hearings to consider the application kick of in Cape Town on Tuesday, January 15 and culminate in Johannesburg on January 31.

We cannot allow NERSA to grant Eskom’s application without a thorough review of national energy and resource plans. Failing a reconsideration of the greedy and corporatist management of South Africa’s energy resources – past, present and future – we all stand to lose: Climate Change, Climate Injustice, De-industrialisation, Unemployment, Inequality and Poverty will all deepen.

South Africa is already one of the world’s biggest emitters of Greenhouse gasses and ranks number one in Africa. We have to answer to the world for our debt to present and future generations.

Yet, as we prepare to celebrate 20 years of democracy, Eskom’s short-term profit-driven strategies have still not delivered power to millions of South Africans, while thousands of households can simply no longer afford the steep tariffs, given a tripling of tariffs in the past ten years. Food security and jobs are now being threatened while people are being pushed to the limits of survival

Civil society and unions are developing alternative electricity plans. These are “roadmaps” for a transition to a ecological energy paradigm – for the people by the people. The plans are based on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which would not only be cheaper in the short run, but also create more jobs and save our environment for future generations.

• WE NEED TO MOBILISE TO STOP THE CORPORATE GREED AND MARGINALISATION OF THE POOR

• WE NEED TO MAKE CLEAR WE WANT ESKOM TO ACCOUNT TO THE PEOPLE

• WE WANT TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIATION AT ALL LEVELS OF PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING ON ELECTRICITY CHOICES

• NERSA SHOULD NOT GRANT THE INCREASE UNTIL A PROPER LONG TERM STRATEGY THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA IS AGREED TO BY ALL

• WE WANT ALTERNATIVE PLANS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE ANY FURTHER TARIFF HIKES ARE CONSIDERED

Civil society has received permission to demonstrate at the venue, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), on the day of the first hearings on Tuesday, the 15^th of January at 13:00pm.

We call on our sister organisations to join us at the CTICC in their thousands for a mass demonstration

VENUE: Cape Town International Convention Centre

TIME: 13:00pm to 14:00pm

DATE: January 15, 2013

TRANSPORT: Organisations needing transport could contact Gray Maquire 084 33 55 77 8.

Interesting article:

NUMSA to fight ESKOM increases

With domestic consumers and especially the poor already buckling under recent increases, it is imperative that we highlight alternatives, particularly the Smart Electricity Scenario being developed by the Electricity Governance Initiative (EIG-SA).

NERSA’s countrywide provincial hearings will kick off on

15 January 2013 in Cape Town.

The meeting will hear presentations on the preliminary findings of the Smart Electricity Scenario, which we believe can meet our electricity demand through saving electricity, and over time, replacing our current coal and nuclear power stations with renewable energy. The plan is also aimed at advancing a Just Transition to a new energy future, in the process creating sustainable jobs and improving the living conditions and opportunities of the poor – all at a lower cost to the fiscus and the environment than the government’s official electricity plan (Integrated Resource Plan 2010) is projected to cost.

The smart electricity plan was drafted by a collective of organisations who are all part of the Electricity Governance initiative (EIG-SA).  SAFCEI is part of this collective, as is 350.org. project90x2030, Gender CC, and The Green Connection.

Workshops will be held in:

Durban on 10 January 2013

Cape Town on 11 January 2013

Johannesburg on 21 January 2013

If you are interested in attending, please contact Roshan – info@thegreenconnection.org.za

Spaces are limited so respond now!

Eskom has proposed to increase the electricity price by 16% each year for the next 5 years, after we have just seen a doubling of the electricity price over the last 3 years.

Eskom’s proposal reached the government energy regulator (NERSA) two weeks ago.  Comments on the proposal can be submitted to NERSA by the 20^th November, and in your submission, you can ask to present at the public hearings in January next year.

Public hearings will be held in each province in South Africa.

Public Hearings (15 – 31 January 2013)

Written comments on the MYPD 3 Application should be sent to the following email address: mypd@nersa.org.za The closing date for stakeholder comments is 20 November 2012.

For more information and queries on the above, please contact Ms Priya Singh or Mr Donald Nkadimeng at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, Kulawula House, 526 Madiba (formerly Vermeulen) Street, Arcadia, Pretoria.

Tel: 012 401 4600

Fax: 012 401 4700

www.nersa.org.za