For decades, South Africans have been spoilt by power prices among the cheapest in the world. There has been little focus on efficiency across all sectors, as it was simply cheap enough not to worry about investing capital in more efficient processes and systems. This has changed dramatically.

The 24.8 percent tariff increase for the 2010-2011 financial year granted to Eskom by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa comes on top of a 31 percent rise last year. The jump will be worsened by further 25.8 percent and 25.9 percent increases in the next two years.