Eskom's Discount Deal for Crypto Miners Raises Regulatory Concerns

Eskom is proposing a discount deal for crypto miners to consume excess electricity during the day. The proposal aims to utilize surplus power between 5,000MW and 7,000MW when households and businesses with solar systems reduce their reliance on the grid.

The flexibility of crypto-mining operations, which can be shut down or rapidly ramped up, makes them attractive to Eskom. However, Nersa members have raised concerns about price discrimination, regulatory risks, and competition concerns.

Nersa's acting chair Ria Govender questioned why the proposal is limited to crypto miners, saying it could constitute price discrimination. She suggested defining qualifying customers according to their load profiles instead.