Eskom electricity tariffs to rise by nearly 9% in April

Eskom customers will have to dig deeper into their pockets from April, as electricity tariffs are set to increase following approval by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

The power utility confirmed that customers supplied directly by Eskom can expect a price increase of 8.76%. This adjustment will come into effect on April 1, 2026.

Meanwhile, municipalities are expected to implement an average increase of 9.01% starting in July.

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NERSA approved the tariff adjustment earlier this month as part of Eskom’s revenue plan for the 2026/27 financial year.

According to the utility, the increase is necessary to cover the costs of generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity while allowing for essential investment into critical infrastructure.

Eskom Group Chief Financial Officer Calib Cassim said that the utility is working to keep future tariff requests reasonable, acknowledging the growing affordability pressures facing both households and businesses.

Despite the broad increases, Eskom noted that subsidised tariffs for low-income and rural households will remain in place to mitigate the impact on the country's most vulnerable citizens.

The utility also highlighted recent improvements in its operational performance.

Eskom reported that the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has reached just under 66% so far this financial year, signalling a more stable generation trend compared to previous periods.