Regulatory review of the electricity market in South Africa : towards crowding-in private sector investment

Abstract

This report provides an analysis of South Africa’s electricity sector policies, laws, and regulations in relation to crowding-in private sector participation in developing national electricity infrastructure. The report is part of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and RES4Africa Foundation joint program on Regulatory Review of the Electricity Sector in Africa: Towards Crowding-in Private Sector Investment. The electricity supply industry of South Africa is the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for over 40 percent of the total installed capacity in the region. The country has been able to expand electricity access to about 94 percent of its population. The efforts to integrate the private sector in the electricity generation market, notably to support the development of a renewables industry, is proving to be successful. As of now, sixty-four renewable energy independent power producers (IPPs) are present in the market.