NERSA's approved electricity tariff hike still going to hit consumers hard, says lobby groups
The energy regulator has approved a 12.7% tariff increase for electricity in 2025, approximately one-third of what Eskom asked for.
Nersa public hearing on Eskom's revenue application - NERSA ZA, Facebook
CAPE TOWN - Some electricity lobby groups said that while the energy regulator's approved electricity tariff increases are lower than what Eskom asked for, they are still going to hit consumers hard.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved a 12.7% tariff increase for electricity in 2025, starting on 1 April.
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The energy regulator also approved 5.3% and 6.1% increases for the next two financial years.
Meanwhile, Eskom had asked NERSA for a 36% increase for 2025, 11.8% for the following year, and 9.1% for the year after.
Lobby group Stop COCT founder Sandra Dickson said the tariff increase is still too high, even though it's only one-third of what Eskom asked for.
"One will have to watch carefully what the municipalities will do, especially the City of Cape Town."
Electricity Tariffs Must Fall's Natasha Gertse said she is not happy about the electricity price hikes.
"I will remain saying this; the people need relief, not increases. No to increases, yes to relief."
Meanwhile, Western Cape premier Alan Winde has slammed NERSA for approving the tariff increase.
Winde said consumers cannot afford this kind of increase.
"This is 400 percent more than the inflation rate in our country. It is totally unacceptable and unaffordable. We need to make sure that we have affordable, reliable renewable energy. I'm really concerned what this pull-through is going to be like in municipalities because it's municipalities that end up giving citizens their electricity, and what kind of cost increase driver is this going to be for our municipalities."