Municipal Draft Budget: electricity increase and ‘unlimited’ free water raise eyebrows

I NOTICE from the Draft Municipal Budget as published in newspapers that the City of Cape Town (CoCT) has increased tariffs across the range by an average of 6.5%.

The electricity kWh tariffs as well as the Electricity Home User Charge (EHUC), however, have been increased by 9.5%.

One can accept the increase of 9.5% for the kWh tariff as that is regulated by Nersa. What cannot be accepted is the increase of 9.5% on the EHUC as that is a charge introduced by the CoCT and should therefore have been increased by only the average of 6.5% as was the case for the Water Fixed Basic Charge. Council comments would be appreciated.

Perhaps the CoCT could also explain why unlimited free water is supplied to indigent customers as well as backyard users for domestic purposes in single residential properties. I, and I am sure many others, have no objections to indigent customers receiving FREE water which is being subsidised by all other paying users, but surely there should be a limit of 5 or 10 kilolitres set per month and not unlimited.

The CoCT is always calling upon users to use water sparingly, and to ensure this request is complied with the price per kilolitre increases with usage. Surely allowing unlimited usage of free water does not encourage water saving.

I sincerely hope other property owners have also submitted comments on the 2022/23 Draft Municipal Budget to the council.

Last, if you are a property owner why not join your local ratepayers and residents association?

S KRAMER | Goodwood