Eskom wants an 8.83% electricity price hike from April 2027

South Africans could face another electricity price increase next year, with an average 8.83% Eskom tariff hike proposed for the 2027/2028 financial year.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has opened the proposal for public consultation before a final decision is made.

Consumers and other stakeholders have until 2 October 2026 to submit their comments on Eskom’s Retail Tariff Structural Adjustment (ERTSA) framework.

If approved, the new tariffs are set to take effect for Eskom’s direct customers from 1 April 2027.

The 8.83% increase is an average, meaning the actual change experienced by individual customers could differ depending on their tariff and connection type.

Electricity prices have already increased

The latest proposal follows consecutive electricity tariff increases for South African consumers.

Eskom’s direct customers faced an average tariff increase of 12.74% from 1 April 2025.

For the 2026/2027 financial year, NERSA approved an average increase of 8.76% for direct Eskom customers from April 2026.

Municipal customers saw an increase of roughly 9% from July 2026.

The proposed 8.83% increase would apply during the 2027/2028 financial year if it receives final approval.

Some households could face different increases

While 8.83% is the proposed average increase, changes to Eskom’s tariff structures mean the impact will not necessarily be the same for every household.

Specific connection types, including Homepower 1 and Homepower 4, could experience different increases as structural adjustments are introduced.

The changes include a move towards more cost-reflective fixed service charges for residential customers.

This could have a greater impact on some lower-consumption households and certain grid-tied customers.

Want to have your say? The deadline is 2 October

The proposed 8.83% increase has not yet received final approval.

NERSA’s public consultation process gives members of the public and other stakeholders an opportunity to comment on Eskom’s proposed tariff changes.

The deadline for submissions is 2 October 2026.

NERSA will consider the submissions before making its final decision on the proposed tariffs.

Electricity increases continue to hit consumers

The proposed increase comes despite Eskom reporting improved financial performance and resolving load-shedding.

Electricity tariff adjustments have also continued to outpace the South African Reserve Bank’s inflation targets.

For households, the final impact will depend not only on whether NERSA approves the proposed average increase, but also on how Eskom’s structural tariff changes affect individual customer categories.

For now, the 8.83% increase remains a proposal.

South Africans who want to comment on the proposed changes have until 2 October 2026 to make their submissions to NERSA.

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