Madam Deputy Speaker, after a long time of speculation and rumours, Eskom finally decided to make their multiyear price determination available to the ordinary tariff payer. According to this application, Eskom wants to start with a 45% increase for each of the next three years. This increase, according to Eskom, is to pay for the rising cost of generating electricity and also to pay for the ambitious built programme of R385 billion. This at a time when the cost of coal has fallen by 59,2% in August from a year ago. We all know that South African coal is among the cheapest in the world, and we must use this national asset to the benefit of all citizens of this country. This is also in the same period during which the DA made available documents showing that Eskom is not run cost-effectively.
The National Energy Regulator of SA now has the responsibility to decide on the application. We, as the DA, therefore call on Nersa to relook at their mandate. We call on them to make sure that the public participation process is used as effectively as possible and to give as many interested parties as possible an opportunity to make these submissions. We also call on Nersa to take the interests of all tariff payers into consideration and to look at what impact these proposed increases will have on the economy of the country.
We also call on the Department of Energy to release their integrated resource plan as soon as possible so that everybody can know what the future programme of the government is for the generation of electricity. How can Nersa approve a multiyear price determination for Eskom ... [Time expired.]