This follows the 8.8% hike approved for Eskom customers in April 2026 (9% for municipal customers in July 2026), and a near 13% hike in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed hike for 2027 also reflects a significant increase from the original 6.2% Eskom wanted in its MYPD6 application, which had to be revised after Nersa blundered its calculations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Energy users are now saddled with the consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eskom will also make adjustments to fixed charges, in line with Nersa’s decision on the Retail Tariff Plan (RTP) to phase these charges in fully over three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These charges are included after<\/strong> the increase applied for, but Eskom is making adjustments to ensure the final overall increases don’t exceed the 8.8% rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the Generation Capacity Charge (GCC), Eskom said that there should be no change for customers and no need for further balancing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Customers would experience “an increase consistent with the average percentage adjustment applied for”\u2014ie 8.8%\u2014it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Eskom’s Homepower and Homeflex fixed service charges do need to be balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The utility said the service charges have to be increased “to be more cost reflective” as Nersa’s RTP decision to implement the charges in a staggered approach meant a third-year step was required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That is, these fixed service charges will grow to a hundred percent (100%) of the original FY2025 amount proposed in the RTP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep the overall average increase consistent, the Homepower and Homeflex energy rates have been reduced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “This ensures that these tariffs\u2019 annual increase is as per the FY2028 ERTSA applied for tariff increases,” Eskom said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another year of massive electricity price hikes will add further strain to South African households and the wider economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following years of unrestrained price increases, the cost of electricity has ballooned by over 900% since 2008, against inflation of 230% over the same period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eskom has turned the screws on its paying customers to cover sales shortfalls, with the group’s latest annual results showing a 4.1% rise in revenue despite a 6.2% drop in sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has also acknowledged that this is not sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This has also prompted a government response, with the Department of Energy and Electricity stepping in with proposed policy measures to contain price hikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eskom reiterated its commitment to ending double-digit price hikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite this promise, the group is still factoring in future price hikes that are at least double the South African Reserve Bank\u2019s inflation target of 3%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an assessment of the group\u2019s cash-generating unit (CGU), the group noted that the CGU\u2019s recoverable amount may be lower than its carrying amount if the long-term price path after 2028 is limited to inflationary increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of this, the current path in its forecast sees price increases averaging 6% from 2029 through to 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the group noted that the long-term price path remains a \u201csignificant source of estimation uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, the utility has made it clear that it will move to protect its revenue by leaning on network charges, customer wheeling and revised tariff structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written comments on the proposed price hikes can be forwarded to ertsa@nersa.org.za.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They can also be hand-delivered to 526 Madiba Street, Arcadia, Pretoria or posted to PO Box 40343, Arcadia, 0083, Pretoria, South Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The closing date for the comments is 2 October 2026 at 16h00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The full consultation paper and application can be read below. <\/p>\n\n\n\nEskom proposed price hikes for 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSouth Africans are under strain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Consultation paper<\/h2>\n\n\n\n