Electricity parastatal Eskom wants a 45 percent tariff hike every year for the next three years.

This is according to its Multi Year Price Determination submission document handed to the media before a briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

There were other options, but Eskom recommended this option be considered as it "mitigates the impact of price increases on customers and the economy and provides for a sustainable long-term solution".

The parastatal said government had endorsed this approach, which was based on the smoothing of price increases.

I-Net Bridge last week reported that trade union Solidarity said that if the National Energy Regulator grants Eskom's request for an annual increase of 45 percent over three years is granted, it would result in a total increase of 410 percent.

This request was an alternative to its initial proposal of 66 percent annually over the next three years, which the union said would raise tariffs by 666 percent over the five-year period from the beginning of 2008 to the end of 2012.

The trade union is planning a campaign to oppose further tariff increases above inflation.

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