Eskom must provide sustainable electricity at a cost affordable to business, the SA Chamber of Commerce (Sacci) and Industry said on Friday.

"For business, the security of a sustainable electricity supply has to be balanced against the cost pressures that the proposed price increases will bring at a vulnerable stage in the economic cycle," it said in a statement, following a meeting with the parastatal on Thursday.

It said the meeting was part of its adoption of a three-pronged approach, which included talking to the public enterprises minister, meeting Eskom senior management and establishing a working group to evaluate alternate approaches to electricity supply problems.

The working group, established under the auspices of Sacci's infrastructure committee, would also serve as a "business sounding board" to Eskom senior management.

Sacci had been addressed by Eskom senior management on the background and motivation for the proposed tariff increase of 45 percent each year over the next three years.

"One of the key outcomes was agreement reached on the need to reach out to small and medium sized enterprises (SME), particularly with regard to the Eskom build programme."

Sacci said Eskom had agreed to participate in a workshop to help SMEs identify and prepare tender applications.

The meeting did not discuss Eskom's leadership problems.

"It is Sacci's view that these matters should be resolved as expeditiously as possible so as not to detract from the issue of primary concern to business, which is the provision of sustainable electricity supply at a cost that is affordable... "