The National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) on Thursday urged South Africans to take part in public hearings into Eskom's latest submission for a tariff hike increase.

Nersa said it had received an application from Eskom on 30 September 2009 for an adjustment to the required revenue for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2013.

"Considering the projected volumes/sales this revenue applied for translates into an application for an electricity price increase of 45 percent per annum for the three year period," Nersa said.

Nersa said it had on Wednesday approved the approach and timelines for processing Eskom's Multi-Year Price Determination for the 2010 to 2013 period (MYPD 2).

"On 29 October 2009 Nersa will publish the Issues Paper requesting comments on specific issues regarding Eskom's MYPD 2 application."

Regional/provincial public hearings

The regulator said it would conduct public hearings in Gauteng from 20-22 January 2010.

"Due to the unprecedented public interest in Eskom's MYPD 2 application, Nersa is considering conducting regional/provincial public hearings aimed at broadening accessibility, public consultation and participation," it said in a statement.

This was in line with its commitment to adhering to due process and being transparent in its decision-making process.

"The dates and venues of the regional/provincial public hearings will be published in due course," it said.

Nersa urged all interested parties to submit written comments and attend or make oral presentations at the public hearings in January 2010.

Eskom wants 88 cents a kilowatt-hour

Earlier this week, Eskom said it had submitted a proposal to Nersa for a 45 percent tariff hike each year for the next three years.

The current price of electricity was around 33 cents per kilowatt-hour, which did not allow for the recovery of all Eskom's prudently incurred costs and the building of reserves to sustain its asset base, it explained.

Eskom said it needed a price between 80 to 88 cents a kilowatt-hour.

The tariffs also did not support the parastatal's capital expansion programme.

Nersa said it would deliver its decision on Eskom's application on 24 February 2010.