Thank you. I hope you'll give me extra time. I know that my words do create this kind of ... [Laughter.] [Interjections.]
We must develop a comprehensive household energy strategy that can incentivise households to reduce their peak demand usage. This would entail the roll-out of smart meters that incorporate time-of-use tariffs; rigid enforcement of the regulation regarding solar water heaters; and financing schemes to reduce their upfront capital cost. A proper gas strategy that can see households migrating from electric and paraffin stoves to gas-fired ones also needs to be implemented.
We must also ensure that all spare generating capacity is utilised and companies that are able to build cogeneration plants must be properly incentivised to do so. Keeping the lights on is going to be a difficult task. But as the ID and the DA, we are prepared to assist as much as possible and we have already implemented what measures we can in the Western Cape and the municipalities that we control to achieve this aim.
In terms of long-term planning though, it is patently obvious to everyone except this department that our 20-year energy plan needs to be urgently reviewed and revised. The department and, it seems, Cabinet has preposterously already deemed the 9 600 megawatt nuclear programme to be non-negotiable.
Minister, this is what should be deemed non-negotiable. Firstly, in line with the National Development Plan, a proper study into the economic feasibility of this programme needs to be undertaken in a transparent manner. The public needs to be made aware of what a programme like this will cost, and the impact that it will have on future energy prices. Already Eskom has conservatively stated that it would need increases of 20% year-on-year to pay for such a programme. Secondly, the outdated assumptions in the integrated resource plan, IRP, need to be reviewed - this year - and a new plan needs to be modelled on these revised assumptions before any major investment decisions are entered into.
The ID will not allow this government to lock South Africa into a costly nuclear programme without first ascertaining whether we can truly afford it and whether the long-term demand projections actually require it. Minister, the fight has just begun. I thank you. [Applause.]