Pushback grows against Eskom’s proposed tariff increase, raising affordability concerns
Civil society, AfriForum and ActionSA Gauteng are opposing Eskom’s proposed 8.83% increase for direct customers, warning that higher tariffs could worsen pressure on households and small businesses.
South African civil society groups are opposing Eskom's proposed 8.83% electricity tariff increase, warning that another cost hike could burden households and small businesses already struggling with high living expenses. The public has until October 2 to provide input on the proposed tariff structure, which would take effect from April 2027 for direct customers and July 2027 for municipal bulk purchases.
The Better Governance Initiative (BGI) has launched a petition against the increase, with founder and director Sabelo Chalufu stating that electricity is consuming an ever-growing share of household and business budgets. BGI is urging NERSA to reject the increase, arguing that Eskom can operate sustainably on previous tariff increases.
AfriForum will also oppose the increase, questioning it amid declining electricity sales and Eskom's multibillion-rand profit. ActionSA Gauteng is also participating in the consultation process, focusing on how Eskom would recover revenue. The organization highlighted that lower-consumption households could face a larger effective increase compared to heavier users.
Energy analyst Matthew Cruise emphasized the need to consider affordability alongside Eskom's financial obligations, warning that rising tariffs could accelerate the shift towards alternative energy sources. NERSA has until October 2 to receive written comments and will hold a virtual public hearing on October 8.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
