Telecommunications companies are aiming to reduce their – and customers’ – reliance on the grid as Eskom’s tariff hikes become a reality from April. Electricity prices are set to double by 2012 after Eskom was granted increases of 24.8 percent from April, and another 25.8 percent next year, and 25.9 percent the year after. The effect is expected to spill over into every aspect of society – from more expensive food to higher operating costs.

Two years ago, government called on industry to cut electricity use by ten percent to stave off another blackout crisis. The simple fact is SA does not produce enough power to meet its needs, which led to rolling blackouts in early 2008.