Grappling with Change: The South African Electricity Supply Industry

This paper reviews the debate over the future structure of the South African electricity supply industry (ESI) with focus on the electricity distribution industry (EDI) segment. The importance of both new and old institutions in the ESI in facilitating change is discussed. The perspective is that of an outside observer who spent nearly 2 years following events in the South African ESI. The ESIsituation reviewed here is very complex and connected to a myriad of other economic, financial, cultural, social, and political issues.