Phillip Dexter M.P., COPE spokesperson on Energy, yesterday slammed Eskom after their presentation to the Portfolio Committees on Energy and Public Enterprises. Describing the presentation as akin to the 'Bold and the Beautiful' in that the story never changes, Dexter asked why there was so little focus on renewable and clean energy from the monopoly. Given that government's New Growth Path placed such an emphasis on these new areas of the economy to create jobs, Eskoms presentation was "pathetic and insipid", remarked Dexter.

The response from the representatives was typical. they side-stepped the issue and said that this required a special presentation. Given that the focus of the presentation was Eskom's Capital Expansion program, Dexter is of the view that Eskom has failed to integrate the government strategy into its own.

Given the view of the Committee Chair that, 'the Minister instructs and Eskom obeys', Dexter pointed out that there was a gap between the rhetoric and the practice of Eskom. The presentation was really just a transparent attempt to prepare us for the inevitable price hikes and hours of darkness we can all look forward to as consumers.

"It is time that government showed some leadership on Eskom", said Dexter. "For too long they have been an inefficient, protected monopoly, creaming off high salaries for themselves and delivering inferior to useless services at shocking prices".

Government must as a matter of urgency create contestability in the generation, supply and distribution of electricity and re-regulate so that households and companies can generate and sell electricity into the grid.