By Mapaballo Borotho
- Calls are growing for electricity pricing reforms as tariffs are set to increase by 8.76% in April 2026.
- The ANCYL says the current pricing model unfairly shifts costs and inefficiencies onto consumers.
- Eskom has acknowledged affordability concerns, saying efforts are being made to keep future increases reasonable.
There have been calls for structural reform of pricing models in South Africa’s electricity sector to make power more affordable.
This follows an announcement from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and Eskom that consumers may have to dig deeper into their pockets from next month to pay for electricity.
NERSA approved an 8.76% increase in Eskom tariffs, set to take effect from April 2026.
The regulator confirmed the adjustment on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, following a meeting between the two organisations on 5 March 2026.
The African National Congress Youth League has called for urgent structural reform of the electricity pricing framework.
The Youth League argues that the current cost-based pricing system used by NERSA passes inefficiencies, historical errors, and governance failures onto consumers.
“Electricity must be treated as a public good, not as a mechanism to recover costs at the expense of the poor. Electricity pricing must prioritise the needs of the people, not narrow financial interests,” the Youth League said in a statement.
In response, Eskom Group Chief Financial Officer Calib Cassim said the utility is mindful of the pressure that rising electricity costs place on households and businesses.
“We have been clear in communicating that Eskom is working to ensure that future tariff increase requests remain reasonable, recognising the affordability pressures on both residential and business customers.
Achieving this depends on disciplined financial management and finding smarter, more efficient ways of operating,” Cassim said.
Subsidised tariffs will remain in place for certain customers.
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