National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) announced it had reached a decision to grant Eskom an 18.65% increase for its 2023/2024 financial year. Eskom was also granted a 12.74% increase for the 2024/2025 financial year. This year’s increase, according to energy expert Ted Blom, will cost an additional R200 to R400 a month on electricity bills depending on where you live.

Eskom-supplied customers will be the first to feel the pinch on April 1, while municipal supplied users will wait until councils approve their tariff increases. 

The cash-strapped power utility, which ramped-up load-shedding to stage 6 this week, had applied to the regulator for a 32% increase last year.

The regulator said its decision sought to balance the needs of Eskom and consumers.

The increase in electricity prices is likely to add salt to the wound of consumers who have been hit by increases in fuel prices, food inflation, interest rate hikes and high levels of unemployment.