The art of getting a raise... - 23 Jun 2008

As if we didn't have enough reason to save electricity, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has just given the go-ahead to let Eskom burn a hole in our pockets, while giving us more encouragement to switch off our geysers. On top of the 14.2% increase confirmed in December, Nersa has added another 13.3% to that - with the combined hike to come into effect on 1 July. Fortunately, the 27.5% increase is a far cry from the 53-60% raise Eskom was asking for; but should we count our lucky stars or look this particular gift horse in the mouth and tell 'em they're talking bull? Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga has called Nersa's decision "responsible" - as though they didn't need the whole lot in the first place, but asked for it anyway... It's much like a precocious young teenager trying to get his girlfriend to take her kit off: don't focus on first base - hit with that home run in mind and see how far you can get before you're blocked, and then later you can compliment her for being "responsible". And so, in this way, instead of just asking for what was merely needed with the chance that only half that would be approved, they asked for more than four times as much, with the idea that the 'compromise' would be higher than what's actually required. Perhaps we should take a feather from this particular cap next time we ask our bosses for a raise...