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Electricity price increases threatens farming sustainability

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The ever-increasing electricity costs threatens the sustainability of affordable food production. This was the warning Free State Agriculture gave to NERSA today. Dr Jack Armour, Operations Manager of Free State Agriculture (FSA), addressed NERSA over Eskom’s proposed plans to further increase the price of electricity.

According to Armour, it is unacceptable that consumers in general must pay the price for the bad management decisions of state owned enterprises and payment delinquency by municipalities. “Eskom’s application to increase prices is an attempt to cover losses from previous years. Eskom over estimated energy demand, hence they over produced and thus they are now confronted with the financial ramifications. Instead of bleeding the consumer dry, Eskom and NERSA should force local governments to pay their outstanding electricity accounts”, Armour said.

FSA opposes the proposed price increases. Electricity is a major input cost component of intensive food production. Intensive food production systems contribute to over 30% of South Africa’s food production. Irrigation farming, poultry, piggeries, dairies, tunnel production and intensive fruit and vegetable production all have significant electricity cost components associated with production.

As it stands, farmers are faced with a pricing structure that strains agricultural productivity. For example, if an average Free State farmer has one point at his house, one at his workers’ houses and one at a borehole point for household, staff and stock watering he pays R6000 in fixed ESKOM costs before even using any electricity.

Farmers normally absorb input cost increases resulting in tighter margins. Because farmers are price takers, they will absorb the increase energy costs, thus threatening sustainable and affordable food production.

Eskom’s failure to deliver reliable energy supply has changed consumer behaviour. A tipping point has already been reached whereby alternative energy is more economical. Should the electricity generation market thus be opened, farmers and consumers would be able to obtain electricity at lower prices. This would secure the sustainability and expansion of food production in South Africa.

Nersa has requested that FSA provide factual information from it’s members within 7 days, regarding the use, benefits and cost of alternative energy.

Media enquiries:   

Dr Jack Armour

Operations Manager: Free State Agriculture

Contact: 071 672 0271

E-mail: jack@vslandbou.co.za