Diesel generators have been installed at many tower sites to ensure service is uninterrupted by power cuts.
Batyi said telecommunications companies have been submitting data to ACT regarding the level of expenditure on diesel for backup generators at their towers. She said that, last year, less than R1 billion was spent, but that was predicted to increase this year due to the increased frequency of load shedding.
The R1.1 billion mark has yet to be hit, but ACT is assuming that an average of Stage 3 load shedding will be in place until the end of the year, which should see spending breach that mark. She said the recent increase in diesel prices means they may have to go"back to the drawing board" with the forecast.