The rising charges for utilities such as electricity, rates and water are pressing hard on both residential and commercial property owners

Power parastatal Eskom has asked the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) for a total 16% tariff increase over the next five years.

South Africa's electricity supply is expected to remain tight in summer as Eskom – which will soon submit its next tariff application to the energy regulator - moves to do more maintenance on its plants.

The New Multi-Product Pipeline currently being constructed by Transnet is a legacy project for the South African economy and the region.

IPSA plc said that its NewCogen subsidiary re-started production of electricity under an emergency contract with Eskom on Wednesday.

Eskom is confident it can save at least 10% of the costs of building the Medupi and Kusile power stations, chief officer for generation Brian Dames said.

Nersa says it has excluded the construction of stadiums for the 2010 World Cup and Gautrain from penalties that are part of the power conservation programme.

The public enterprises department has taken the extraordinary step of releasing a confidential report on the state of SA’s electricity market which paints a bleak picture of the prospects for power supply in the next few years.