The Electricity Distribution Industry Holdings (EDI) is to accelerate the restructuring of the industry by focusing on the EDI Restructuring Bill and the preparation of Eskom and municipalities to join the Regional Energy Distributors (REDs).
EDI Chief Executive Officer, Phindile Nzimande said: "We are giving priority attention to the EDI Restructuring Bill because we believe it will give significant momentum to the EDI restructuring process."
She was speaking at a media briefing which was organised by the Department of Minerals and Energy for a Forum of Executives in the Energy industry on Monday 25 June.
Nzimande said this would bring about certainty among stakeholders regarding the envisaged end state and how the transfer of assets from current distributors to the REDs will be undertaken.
Since Cabinet's decision in October 2006 to establish six wall to wall REDs as Public Entities, EDI Holdings have made significant progress in working together with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the municipalities and Eskom to ensure their preparation to join the REDs.
The REDs will be regulated by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
These preparations have entailed the following:
"We urge all stakeholders to work closely with EDI Holdings in making sure the REDs are viable and deliver affordable, accessible and reliable electricity supply. It will be for the benefit of the economy and the people of South Africa if they are established sooner rather than later," Nzimande said.
The Forum of Executives in Energy was established by the Department of Minerals and Energy in March 2007 and is attended by the Department of Public Enterprises, Eskom, EDI Holdings, NERSA, Nuclear Regulator among others.
The objective of the forum is to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to planning and management of energy issues in South Africa.
Source: BuaNews
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