Effective 1 April, Eskom customers in South Africa will face an increase in electricity tariffs, adding to the financial burden of many families already facing regular power outages.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa approved Eskom’s application to hike tariffs by 18.65% for standard customers and 18.49% for municipalities for the 2023/24 financial year.
Eskom stated that the tariff increases would only affect those who receive direct supply from the utility company, while municipalities will face the hike starting from 1 July, because the financial year for municipalities begins three months after Eskom’s financial year begins, and tariff hikes during their financial year would not correspond with their budgets.
Although some South Africans are concerned about the financial implications of this increase, Eskom said it was necessary to ensure the continued provision of electricity to its customers. The hike is expected to help Eskom recover costs and meet its operational expenses to provide a reliable power supply.