Today the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was ordered by the High Court to revert to the Inclining Block Tariff (IBT) applicable to qualifying domestic electricity consumers, subject to the regulatory approvals and implementation processes prescribed by the Court.
Let us be BRUTALLY HONEST in examining this ‘victory’ against the ‘Cabal of Corruption’:
- It is in my humble view that IBT is Immoral and Unfair.
- If my business had to charge more per unit for larger usage of my products then it wouldn’t take long for us to go out of business – standard business practice rewards people for buying more.
- We have in the past had the IBT levels changed from 5 to 3 (900 to 500 units on he highest tariff).
- IBT presents one more way for the municipality to squeeze a HIDDDEN increase on consumers.
- We already have an active Assistance to the Poor (ATTP) Programme in place – here NMBM gives an additional 25 units per month over and above te gazetted amount.
- And, HERE IS THE KICKER, the return to IBT is not going to make monthly bills for the traditional DA Voter much cheaper at all, it will favour those in the lower-middle to lower social bracket by eliminating what would have been a 29% increase in electricity. FRANKLY – those who will benefit are not the DA’s tarditional voter base.
So, forgive me for thinking that the DA have succeeded in making the NMBM poorer whilst ‘gifting’ the ANC with lower tariffs for their voters at the whole cities expense.
Do not forget the thousands of citizens that are not affected by the electricity tariffs at all – all those who have faulty, tampered meters. Drive through areas like Motherwell and Missionvale etc. and see how many illegal cables are strung across fences, roads and from poles to get a sense of just how big the problem is.
Imagine Retief Odendaal knocking on the door of a shack and telling the owner that he/she now needs to reconnect teir electricity meters as Retief and the DA has just saved them money through this court order? Simple Truth: When someone is not paying for something they will not willingly comply when the price of that commodity is reduced.
Once again our politicians are using our money in the lead up to the Local General Elections.
Related: As You Were NMB Electricity!
