The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) has launched a District Energy Council (DEC) in Upington, in the Northern Cape, that includes representatives from the DEE, State-owned utility Eskom, district and local municipalities, agriculture and business sectors and civil society.
The DEC aims to close the gap between Eskom and municipalities, strengthen collaboration between the DEE and municipalities, incorporate large energy offtakers such as agriculture and business, and broader society, and ensure energy-related matters remain front and centre across each local municipality within a district.
Several DEE initiatives and programmes will be rolled out through the DECs. Council members are encouraged to influence policy and actively contribute to the department's plans, says Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré.
This approach enables all participants to hold one another accountable while ensuring consistent energy throughout the district, she says.
The DEC, which will meet at least quarterly, will be piloted for 12 months and housed within the DEE's Integrated National Electrification Programme.
