Question NW2708 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
27 November 2020 - NW2708
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
1) (a)What number of audits has the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) conducted of the City of Ekurhuleni since its establishment, (b) on what date was each audit report submitted to the specified city, (c) what were the recommendations contained in each audit report and (d) what number of new electricity connections have taken place within the city since the last audit was conducted by NERSA; 2) Whether NERSA has ensured that its recommendations have been implemented by the city; if not, why not; if so, which recommendations have been implemented? NW3476E
Reply:
1.
a) An independent technical audit of Ekurhuleni was done in January 2006. Another audit was done in 2020 but the focus was on the business assessment.
b) The report on the independent technical audit was submitted in the same year in May 2006. Due to COVID induced travel restrictions that was in place when the business assessment was done, the site inspection on the audit conducted in 2020 will be done in early 2021.The draft report of the business assessment will be sent to the Licensee by the end of November 2020.
c) It was recommended that:
- There must be investment in the maintenance and the refurbishment of the networks and on skilled staff.
- The Department must operate as an integrated entity.
- The maintenance and refurbishment plans must also be integrated.
d) According to our knowledge, there were 45 intake points in 2005/6 and there are now 55 intake points.
Increased Infrastructure
The Department of Energy has since 2006 increased its infrastructure in the various Depots in Ekurhuleni as follows:-
|
Electrification of Subsidized Households |
High Mast Lights |
Street Lights |
Substations |
|
92 161 |
977 |
15 458 |
Upgrading/Construction of 13 Substations |
The 92 161 additional connections excludes town planning development connections for non-subsidized households, which also forms part of the electricity grid and infrastructure to be maintained by the Department.
2. NERSA requests all audited licensees to develop Corrective Action Plans so that this can be monitored. The same will happen with Ekurhuleni Metro when the site inspection has been done and a final report has been shared with the Licensee. One of the objectives of the NERSA audits is to encourage licensees to do self-monitoring so that the networks do not deteriorate.