Minister must set deadline to reintroduce the ISMO Bill
06 August 2014
The DA challenges the Minister of Energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, to set a deadline for tabling the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill before Parliament.
Should the Minister fail to announce a date for tabling the Bill before Parliament, the DA will fight for the reintroduction of the Bill as a Private Member's Bill in Parliament so to start the much needed reform of the energy sector.
This follows reports of a mooted partial privatisation of Eskom by Cabinet Ministers and government officials advocating for the unbundling and partial privatisation of Eskom, which will allow for more independent power producers within the energy sector, increase competition and create jobs for the unemployed - particularly in the green energy sector.
The DA has always advocated for the private sector to play a greater role in resolving our energy crisis, and for Eskom's monopoly stranglehold of the sector to finally be broken. This will in turn lead to an inflow of much needed investment into the sector while fostering greater efficiencies, increased competition, and a possible reduction in administered prices.