1. PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY 6 March 2013

2. OUTLINE Legislative context, NERSA vision and NERSA mission
Regulatory Principles
Regulatory Functions
Regulation of Electricity Prices- Eskom
Eskom MYPD3 application
Regulation of Electricity Prices- Municipalities
Conclusion

3. Legislative Context National Energy Regulator Act, Act No 40 of 2004;
Independent Regulator: 4 full time and 5 part time members
Responsible for the regulation of three energy industries: electricity; piped gas; petroleum pipelines
Decisions based on reasons, facts and evidence
Public meetings/hearings
Industry legislation
Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act No. 4 of 2006) as amended in 2007
Gas Act, 2001 (Act No. 48 of 2001);
Petroleum Pipelines Act, 2003 (Act No. 60 of 2003);
Electricity Regulations
Electricity Pricing Policy (EPP) GN December 2008
Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity GN May 2011

4. “To be a world-class leader in energy regulation”
NERSA Vision and mission
NERSA strives to regulate the South African
electricity, piped-gas and petroleum pipelines industries
by ensuring that the most efficient and effective industries are in place
to exceed the requirements of existing and future energy customers.
This is encapsulated in its vision statement:
“To be a world-class leader in energy regulation”
Further supported by this mission
“To regulate the energy industry in accordance with government laws and policies, standards and international best practices in support of sustainable development.”

5. REGULATORY PRINCIPLES
Regulatory principles, which guides the Regulator’s conduct and service delivery:
Rule of Law: Law applies to everybody and provides a clear framework for everybody to operate. Review and appeal by high court
Transparency: reason for decisions and consultative processes;
Neutrality: neutral to all market players without favouring one or other group (non-discrimination)
Consistency: Explained decisions enabling stakeholders to take informed decisions – no surprises; predictability
Independence: Independence from stakeholders and politicians; within legal framework and published Government policy)
Accountability: Internal accountability – PFMA. Regulator takes responsibility for actions and decisions.
In addition, NERSA binds itself to carry out its business efficiently, economically and effectively, as required by legislation.

6. REGULATORY FUNCTIONS FOR ELECTRICITY
Licensing: Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Trading;
Setting of tariffs;
Setting of conditions of supply and standards;
Monitoring compliance with licence conditions.
Responding to non-compliance
Investigate complaints;
Mediate or arbitrate in disputes;
Gather and store industry information;

7. REGULATION OF ELECTRICITY PRICES
Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act No. 4 of 2006)
Section 4(a)(ii) says that the regulator must regulate prices and tariffs.
Section 15 (1) (a) says:- “must enable an efficient licensee to recover the full cost of its licensed activities, including a reasonable margin or return;”.
Section 15 (1) (c) says:- “must give end users proper information regarding the costs that their consumption imposes on the licensee's business;”
Section 15(1) (c) and (d) says:- “must avoid undue discrimination between customer categories” and “may permit the cross-subsidy of tariffs to certain classes of customers”
NERSA also has to comply with the Principles in the Electricity Pricing Policy document because Section 4 (a) (iv) says:- “issue rules designed to implement the national government's electricity policy framework, the integrated resource plan and this Act;”

8. REGULATION OF ELECTRICITY PRICES:- Eskom
NERSA uses a Revenue Requirement Methodology based upon the wording in the Acts which in turn leads to a rate of return methodology
The rate of return formula is as follows:
R = E + (V – d + w) r
Where:
R = required revenue
E = cost to supply
V = value of qualifying property, plant and equipment
d = accumulated depreciation on qualifying property, plant and equipment
w = allowance for working capital
r = rate of return using the weighted average costs of capital (WACC)

9. Eskom’s MYPD3 Application
NERSA published the MYPD3 Application for comment and received over 200 comments from individuals, organisations and NGO’s
Public Hearings were held in 9 provinces
The Energy Regulator thanks and appreciated those who took the time and effort to submit written comments and who made presentations
The overwhelming weight of the comments and submissions were that the requested increases were unaffordable

10. Eskom’s MYPD3 Application
On 28 February 2013 the Energy Regulator made a decision on the average price increase and Eskom must now submit tariff tables in line with the decision for approval
NERSA has requested an alternative tariff to the ToU tariff for municipalities with predominantly residential load to be available as an option
In the Time of Use tariff the ratio between Winter Peak to Summer Minimum is more than 9 to 1 and this will be reduced to 8 to 1 as the first phase . International norms are about 5 to 1

11. Source: Eskom and NERSA
Eskom Price History
MYPD 1 Decision
Revision 1: price in Dec 2007
Revision 2: 2008 price in Mar 2008
Interim
MYPD 2 Decision
Revision: 2012 price Mar 2012
MYPD3 Decision
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Average Price Increase (%)
5.10
5.90
6.20
14.20
27.50
31.30
24.80
25.80
25.90
16.00 8
Average Price (c/kWh)
17.91
18.09
18.27
22.61
25.24
33.14
41.57
52.30
65.85
60.66
65.51
70.75
76.41
82.53
89.13
Prices in Red actually applied
Source: Eskom and NERSA

12. REGULATION OF ELECTRICITY PRICES:- MUNICIPALITIES
NERSA publishes Municipal Tariff Guidelines and Benchmarks and municipalities apply based upon these figures
In terms of section 73 and 74 of the Municipal systems Act No 32 of 2000 they are allowed to add a surcharge for commercial and industrial customers
Currently NERSA gives the municipalities guidelines and benchmarks to assist them with their application but look at each municipality on a case by case basis
NERSA wants to move to a revenue requirement methodology similar to Eskom’s but this will need a properly ring fenced electricity business and up to date and correct asset registers and recent cost of supply studies
NERSA is currently busy with municipalities where there are issues with the industrial tariffs

13. CONCLUSION
NERSA is concerned about the general price of electricity and its impact on Industry especially in the municipal areas and is addressing the issue within its mandate however the funding model of the municipalities needs to be addressed as for example all Metro budgets forecast a steadily increasing reliance on revenue from electricity. The proportion is increasing by about 2 to 3 percentage points a year
Particular concern is the impact on employment and impact on the poor and NERSA will continue to act within its mandate to take this into account

14. THANK YOU