Presentation – Parliament Portfolio Committee Date: 9th March 2005

Experiences of Communities - Electricity Access & Affordability for basic needs

Nkosana Rakitla Sustainable Energy & Climate Change Project

Where do I come from? Daveyton a township, in Ekurhuleni Metro , East Rand Gauteng. Informal Settlements – 7 sections RDP house Four roomed/match houses

My personal experience - Access Lack of access to safe electricity lead people to People use candles for lighting People use paraffin for cooking and lighting People use brazens (make shift stoves) for heat and cooking Coal stoves Winter – burn tyres for heating High dependence – on wood for cooking & heat

negative impacts Paraffin accidents – burning of informal settlements Candle relate accidents – burnt children & burning of informal settlement Coal & tyres in winter - excessive air pollution Deforestation – targeting trees at side of road, golf course and parks

Affordability

Affordability Most families on the ground are families of six – seven & upwards On basic income grants Pension Minimum wage Most are unemployed

Unaffordability of electricity Electricity take a large proportion of our income Increasing debts Electricity cut offs

Impacts of debt & cuts off Unrest between councilors and communities Illegal connections Illegal reconnections Increasing demand for paraffin, coal, wood and burning tyres

Experience doing outreach work with schools people don’t know where electricity comes from & cost of producing electricity Distribution regulation Transmission Policy Generation pollution

Most important They don’t know about energy efficiency They don’t feel part the of decision making process

Stepped Block Tariff for Residential Use Note: a different fee structure would be developed for business, with special rates for SMMEs The initial block of electricity is charged at a lower rate, become more expensive the more that is used. Block 4 500 – 1000 kilowatt hours 40c per Kw/H Block 3 201 – 500 kilowatt hours 35c per kW/H Block 2 51 – 200 kilowatt hours 20c per kW/h Block 1 1 –50 kW/h free

Benefits of Stepped Block Encourage efficient use electricity Conservation of electricity.

Free Basic Electricity addressing access and affordability FEB should be provided on a per person basis instead of per household.

Awareness & Education Energy Efficiency Energy conservation Public participation