Monday, 20 March 2023
Brian Kamanzi is a renewable energy engineer and an independent researcher on climate and energy policy. He recently joined the Institute for Economic Justice as an energy policy researcher. He has also done work with the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research.
The crisis in much of the Global North is a stark reminder that privatising electricity supply, transmission and distribution can come at a terrible cost for consumers.
While punted as the silver bullet that will solve South Africa’s energy crisis in an environmentally friendly way, the truth about these renewables paints a more challenging picture.
This second response in our New Frame, New Economy forum on minerals and the climate argues that efforts to decarbonise the economy cannot be the preserve of green capitalists.
Lofty plans to boost South Africa’s energy supply are promoted by loud voices who conveniently forget that most residents are highly unlikely to gain any benefits.
Eskom’s proposed new tariff structure will see working and middle-class consumers pay more for electricity than bigger consumers, while private capital benefits from basic service provision.
If the state and workers collaborate, however, new rules for electricity generation could benefit all as small-scale renewable energy plants add power to the grid – and to the people.
Failing municipal funding models, tariff cross subsidisation and rising use of rooftop solar devices has meant rich users pay less per kilowatt than many working class households.