Electricity tariff increase approved by Nersa is a clear rebuke of Eskom, but still too high
24 February 2022
I have noted that Nersa has decided not to award Eskom an increase of 20,5% and has instead allowed Eskom a 9,61% increase in the price of electricity. This increase will become effective from 1 April 2022 (Electricity tariff increases for City customers will be determined through the Budget process and increases will come into effect from 1 July 2022).
This increase is less than half of what Eskom asked for, and is a clear rebuke to Eskom’s totally unrealistic request. While I am happy that Nersa took the voice of thousands of Capetonians into consideration, it must be noted that the increase of 9,1% is still 4,1 percentage points higher than inflation.
Our message to Nersa was simple: Capetonians simply cannot afford above-inflation increases in the cost of electricity. Such increases are unfair, unaffordable and unjust. This remains our view.
Despite a 544% increase in the average price of electricity from 2007 to 2021, South Africans have seen a continued increase in load-shedding and energy insecurity.