Have your say on Eskom’s 2027 electricity tariff hike
· The South African
South Africans have been urged to participate in public consultations on Eskom’s proposed 8.83% electricity tariff increase for 2027, with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) warning that public input could influence the final decision.
Public and stakeholder comments on the proposed tariff structure were open until 2 September, as NERSA considers Eskom’s application.
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Legal requirement
Welile Mkhize, NERSA’s head of the Department for Electricity Licensing, Compliance and Dispute Resolution, said public participation was a legal requirement and an important part of the regulator’s decision-making process.
“We are mandated by the PAJA, which is your Public Administrative Justice Act, to consult the public whenever decisions that will affect them – interested and affected stakeholders – are to be made,” Mkhize said.
“It’s very important because we do use that information in making final decisions.”
Could influence the outcome
The proposed increase comes after electricity tariffs rose by 8.76% in 2026, meaning households and businesses could face another substantial increase if Eskom’s application is approved.
However, Mkhize said public submissions could potentially influence the final outcome.
He stressed that submissions needed to provide evidence demonstrating how higher electricity costs would affect households, businesses and other users.
“For example, for poor households, if they can show that they are unable to afford electricity and this can have an impact, for example, on their ability to pay, which can compound the problem of municipal debt and therefore the debt that parties owe to Eskom,” Mkhize said.
‘Facts must be brought to the table’
He cautioned that simply stating that electricity was unaffordable would not necessarily be sufficient.
“Those are the facts that must be brought to the table and not just that I can’t afford it, so you need to state why you can’t afford it,” he added.
The consultation process gives members of the public, industry groups, municipalities and other affected stakeholders an opportunity to put their concerns on record before NERSA makes its final determination.
For households already struggling with rising living costs, another electricity increase could place further pressure on monthly budgets.
Source of revenue
The proposed 8.83% hike is also likely to be closely watched by municipalities, many of which rely heavily on electricity sales as a source of revenue and could face further financial pressure if consumers struggle to keep up with rising bills.
NERSA is expected to consider the submissions received before making a final decision on Eskom’s proposed tariff structure.
For consumers, the consultation process represents an opportunity to make their concerns part of that decision – but, as NERSA has stressed, submissions need to demonstrate how and why the proposed increase would affect them.
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