South Africans trying to cut their electricity use could still face higher monthly bills under Eskom’s proposed 2027 tariff changes.
AfriForum has written to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, asking it to reject the utility’s planned increases for the 2027/28 financial year.
The organisation’s main concern is the sharp rise in fixed charges, which customers must pay regardless of how much electricity they use.
Households Could Pay More Before Using Power
MyBroadband reports that Eskom is proposing an average tariff increase of 8.83% for direct customers and 8.84% for municipalities.
But AfriForum says those averages do not show the full impact on households.
Under the proposed structure, some fixed fees would rise by far more than the headline increase.
For Homepower and Homeflex 4 customers, MyBroadband reports that the daily fixed charge would move from R17.86 to R22.03.
That works out to an increase of 23.3%, with customers paying about R670 a month before using any electricity.
AfriForum Warns of Customer Exodus
AfriForum local government affairs adviser Dalena Beyers said the approach could backfire on Eskom.
In a statement, she warned that steadily increasing fixed costs could push more consumers to reduce their reliance on the national grid.
AfriForum argues that this may help Eskom recover more revenue in the short term, but could weaken its customer base over time.
The organisation also questioned the tariff increases while Eskom has reported profits and made provision for billions of rand in bonuses.
NERSA Urged to Scrutinise Application
AfriForum has also put pressure on NERSA, saying the regulator should examine the application more closely before approving further increases.
The organisation says the current tariff process forms part of a three-year cycle and follows earlier adjustments linked to a calculation error.
According to AfriForum, another outstanding amount still needs to be recovered in a future tariff cycle.
MyBroadband reports that, if approved, the new Eskom Direct tariffs would take effect from 1 April 2027.