(1) With regard to the difference in electricity tariffs approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and implemented by the City of Cape Town (CCT) Metropolitan Municipality (details furnished), and the subsequent legal action by the CCT (details furnished), what is the status of the court application to review Nersa’s decision for the 2022-23 municipal financial year;
(2) whether, following the failure of the CCT’s urgent High Court application regarding the electricity tariffs for the 2023-24 municipal financial year, the CCT has taken any further legal steps with regard to the 2023-24 Nersa tariff decision; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether the CCT obtained an interim decision from Nersa and/or a High Court order, which permits them to charge a tariff hike in excess of the Nersa decisions for each municipal financial year, pending the final determination of their review(s); if not, (a) under what authority did the CCT increase its tariffs in excess of the Nersa approved increase, (b) can the CCT rely on any statutory provisions for the tariffs that residents have been paying since 1 July 2022, (c) does his department offer residents who have been overcharged, any recourse and (d) what is the estimated and/or actual total amount in excess of the approved Nersa tariffs of electricity charged to residents of Cape Town, since 1 July 2022;
(4) how has Nersa dealt with the complaints and objections it received from the residents of Cape Town during 2023 when the above-approved tariff hike became public knowledge;
(5) whether Nersa intends taking any action against the CCT as a licensed distributor that allegedly violates a Nersa decision on electricity tariffs; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) action and (b) are the relevant details in cases where Nersa had acted in such cases?