The recent High Court judgement, which was honoured in favour of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber against the National Energy Regulator’s (Nersa) municipal tariff methodology, had come as a result of the meticulous work and leadership of Dave Mertens, the Chamber’s Water and Electricity Task Team Lead.
The outcome was also in favour of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber, who jointly filed legal papers with the Bay’s Chamber earlier this year to challenge Nersa on its decision.
Together with his team, they presented strong legal arguments for over a year challenging the decision and this resulted in the High Court delivering an outcome in the Chambers’ favour, changing the way electricity tariffs are set and ensuring that in the near future, Municipalities will not be able to add on costs to consumers for their own inefficiencies. This ultimately benefits South African business and consumers, and is the second time that the Chamber has taken on a case of this nature.
Commenting on the outcome, Mertens said this demonstrated effectiveness of the Chamber’s approach to establishing clusters with business in order to collaborate in finding solutions to common problems.
“We have been very consistent in our legal approach and over the years, this formula has helped the team in restricting both Eskom and Municipal electricity increases, thus providing savings to businesses and consumers across the country,” he said.
To this end, the Chamber has recognised Mertens for his sterling leadership and contribution in the Task Teams. More importantly, for leading a successful charge against a powerful entity such as Nersa.
“What the Electricity Cluster Challenge has achieved under David’s leadership is highly commendable and has set a high precedent for future engagements. What should be appreciated about this process is the power of collaboration and what you can achieve as a collective,” said Denise van Huyssteen, chief executive for the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
