Establishing the Independent Transmission Project (ITP) procurement office
To facilitate private investments and development of transmission infrastructure, an office similar to the IPPO needs to be established. This will be known as the Independent Transmission Project Office.
read more >>Curtailment protocol
The curtailment framework was approved by Nersa in April 2025. The process began on 28 January 2024 when Eskom released an addendum on the GCCA. The GCCA 2025 Addendum provides the 2025 connection capacity with curtailment for energy generators and serves as an addendum to the GCCA 2025 published in October 2023, for the purpose…
read more >>Interim Grid Capacity Allocation Rules (IGCAR)
To mitigate a similar failure of BW6, Eskom released its Interim Grid Capacity Allocation Rules (IGCAR) in 2023. These were formulated in response to surging demand for grid access in a context of acute grid scarcity. Based on these rules, Eskom does not grant grid access based on “first come, first served” principles anymore but…
read more >>Removal of NTCSA upstream guarantee (‘Lazard Structure’)
Eskom has been working with financial adviser Lazard for a number of years in an attempt to bolster its balance sheet. Lazard was hired originally about six years ago to produce options for Eskom’s turnaround in a move that was seen as more than just debt restructuring. However, the advisory firm has been restricted to…
read more >>Eskom Distribution company unbundling
Distribution’s role is to service the customer through building, operating and maintaining distribution assets, while also acting in the national interest by actively partnering with the wider industry in resolving distribution industry issues and enhancing stakeholder relations.
read more >>Energy Security Bill
This legislation is backed by National Treasury and the National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom), which sits in the Presidency, forming part of the Operation Vulindlela agenda.
read more >>Raising cap on self-generation to 100MW threshold
The declaration made by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 10 June 2021 liberalised a major portion of the electricity supply sector. Ramaphosa raised South Africa’s 10MW regulatory cap on electricity self-generation, also known as “embedded generation”, to 100MW. This enabled private companies to move forward with long-delayed projects without having to worry about over-burdensome licensing requirements….
read more >>Removal of 100MW threshold
The 100MW cap on private generation projects was removed in July 2022 leading to an increased number of private generation projects. This move has increased competitiveness in pricing as, together with wheeling arrangements, private operators can now build and supply direct to customers. Private generation projects registered with Nersa have surpassed the 7GW markTo date…
read more >>Additional renewable energy development zones
In March 2021, then Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy signed a notice in the Government Gazette designating three more geographic areas as renewable energy development zones (REDZs): Emalahleni, Klerksdorp and Beaufort West. They join the eight zones that were earlier designated: Overberg, Komsberg, Cookhouse, Stormberg, Kimberley, Vryberg, Upington and Springbok, bringing the total…
read more >>DFFE EIA permitting regime change
This reform aims to speed up environmental impact asssessments for renewable energy plants. A proponent must ask Eskom for a consent letter attesting to the fact that its facility’s planned design will not unduly impede access to transmission or distribution facilities. If it receives no response in 45 days, Eskom is deemed to have no…
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