By MidCity Utilities (Pty) Ltd
Electricity is a necessity in every South African home, and whenever new tariff changes are announced, it’s natural to wonder what they might mean for your monthly expenses.
To support your forward planning, the home efficiency platform has provided a detailed analysis of Eskom’s electricity pricing updates for the next two years, along with an outline of the potential financial implications for consumers.
What’s changing and why it matters
Following a court‑ordered review of an earlier tariff decision, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has approved revised electricity tariff increases for Eskom. These increases are higher than those originally approved in January 2025.
Here’s how the numbers compare:
NERSA’s Eskom Tariff Decisions
| Original increase (approved 30 January 2025) | 5.36% | 6.19% |
| Revised increase (approved 7 February 2026) | 8.76% | 8.83% |
These revisions represent a meaningful jump from the earlier figures, which is why it’s important to understand how they may affect your household budget.
What this means for your electricity bill
To give you a practical view of what these tariff increases translate to in everyday life, we’ve calculated the estimated monthly and annual costs for typical household electricity bills. These assume your electricity usage remains the same and reflect Eskom’s average tariff increase.
Estimated impact on your electricity bill*
| 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 | 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 | 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 | 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 | |
| R 1 000 | R 1 087 | R 1 183 | R 13 051 | R 14 203 |
| R 2 500 | R 2 719 | R 2 959 | R 32 628 | R 35 509 |
| R 4 000 | R 4 350 | R 4 734 | R 52 204 | R 56 814 |
| R 5 500 | R 5 981 | R 6 509 | R 71 781 | R 78 119 |
*Estimates are based on Eskom’s average tariff increases and unchanged consumption. This is applicable to direct Eskom consumers.
These increases may appear small month‑to‑month, but add up significantly over a full year, especially for homes with higher electricity usage.
If you buy electricity through a Municipality
Not all households buy electricity directly from Eskom. If your electricity is supplied by your municipality, your tariff increase will not take effect in April.
Instead:
- Municipal tariff changes take effect on 1 July 2026.
- Municipalities use the April–June window to prepare their budgets.
- Each municipality then submits its own tariff application to NERSA for approval.
While the final municipal increases often align with Eskom’s direction, they can vary based on each municipality’s financial plans and operational needs.
Managing rising costs through efficiency
The rising cost of essential services like electricity is a growing concern for many South African households. But the good news is that with the right knowledge and home efficiency improvements, you can take control of your electricity usage and your budget.
Investing in energy‑saving appliances, solar solutions, smart home devices, and better household habits can help offset tariff increases and unlock long‑term savings.
Plan ahead
With electricity tariffs continuing to rise, the need for households to actively manage their energy consumption has become increasingly urgent. A range of tools, insights, and tailored solutions is now available to help South African homeowners reduce usage, lower monthly costs, and build long‑term energy resilience.
Rising tariffs don’t have to derail your household budget with informed planning and smart efficiency choices today, you can set yourself up for meaningful savings well into the future.
Sources:
Standard Bank