South Africas Just Energy Transition is moving from policy debate to operational design with new frameworks now defining how electricity will be traded, transmitted and governed.
During the CIGRE 12th regional conference at the CSIR International Convention in Pretoria last week October 14-17, experts presented proposals to advance the implementation of decarbonisation and energy market reform mechanisms. Discussions focused on the establishment of an Independent Transmission System and Market Operator ITSMO, the design of adaptive governance structures and the integration of digital platforms to improve data management and market transparency.
Khanyisile Masemola , a PhD candidate in electrical engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, presented a paper proposing a national adaptive governance model to operationalise the transition. The model introduces polycentric energy transition councils at national, provincial and municipal levels to coordinate between regulators, Eskom, independent power producers, project developers and communities. The model also promotes participatory digital platforms, transparent data sharing and continuous policy feedback loops to ensure accountability across the system.