Tag: Electricity Regulation Act (ERA)

South Africa’s revamped carbon tax policy, coming into effect in 2026, signals a decisive shift in the country’s climate and energy landscape. With stricter emissions thresholds and an expanded scope for carbon offsets, the carbon tax overhaul is set to drive major investment in renewable energy. It will also reshape how businesses source electricity. This policy evolution opens new doors, even though some hurdles remain.

Let's face it: South Africa's power grid is not winning any awards for reliability. Our data centres are feeling the heat - and not in a good way. These digital powerhouses not only keep our online world spinning but are also fuelling the recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution - yet their ever-expanding capabilities hinge on one critical requirement: an uninterrupted power supply.

Government’s conduct over the last century and more has led to the situation South Africa finds itself in today as regards the provision of electricity. Tracing a series of legislative and regulatory interventions in the electricity market, we can see how this came to be.

On Tuesday 29 October 2019, the South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, released, and held a media briefing on, a special paper entitled 'Roadmap for Eskom in a Reformed Electricity Supply Industry, 2019' (the Roadmap). The Roadmap highlights the issues that Eskom is currently facing and then sets out the government's plan to address them.