🔥 Trending Nersa Announces Electricity Price Hikes for 2026

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved significant electricity tariff increases for 2026, impacting both direct Eskom customers and municipal distributors. These increases are set to take effect at different times during the year.

NERSA's Approval and Key Figures

On March 5, 2026, NERSA's Energy Regulator considered and approved the Eskom Retail Tariffs and Structural Adjustment (ERTSA) application ². This decision resulted in a multi-tiered increase:

• For Eskom Direct Customers: An average tariff increase of 8.76% was approved, effective from April 2026 ²⁵⁶. This increase is a redetermination of Eskom's price increases for the next two years, with an additional 8.83% increase scheduled for April 2027 ⁵⁶.
• For Municipalities and Private Electricity Distributors: An average tariff increase of 9.01% was approved for the country's 176 licensed municipal and private electricity distributors ¹²⁴. This increase came into effect on July 1, 2026 ¹⁴⁸.

Impact on Consumers

South African electricity consumers are facing a fresh wave of tariff increases. The 9.01% hike for municipalities, effective from July 1, 2026, means that households and businesses supplied by their local municipalities will see higher electricity bills ¹⁴. Similarly, Eskom's direct customers experienced an 8.76% increase starting in April 2026 ⁵⁶.

The approved increases have sparked discussions regarding affordability, economic competitiveness, and the overall state of energy pricing in South Africa ⁴. NERSA's decision is part of the 2026/27 municipal tariff process ⁸.