The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber says it has, together with local energy intensive industrial companies, secured a massive win for businesses in the Metro and electricity users in South Africa.
The North Gauteng High Court handed down judgement in favour of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the energy intensive industrial companies based in the Metro.
This followed an application brought against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and Eskom earlier this year.
In the application, which was heard in in June this year, the Chamber and the energy intensive companies asked for the R11.2-billion regulatory clearing account increase to the Eskom tariff, to be declared unlawful and set aside based on numerous irregularities in the approval process.
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Deputy President and Electricity Task Team Chamber Board lead, MC Botha said the High Court confirmed both applicants argument to be correct and declared the regulatory clearing account approval to be irrational, unfair and unlawful.
Botha said in a statement that the Chamber was very satisfied with the outcome of the judgement as this is a massive win not only for businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay, but for all electricity consumers in the country.
"We are very satisfied with the outcome of the judgement as this is a massive win not only for businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay, but for all electricity consumers in the country. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber will continue to champion the interests of its members in particular and commerce and industry in general," Botha said.
He added that given the significance of the matter, the Business Chamber's legal representation was in the process of studying the detailed judgment and would keep members informed on the full implications of the judgement in due course.
