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What to Expect from Council Tariff Increases – Effective 1 July 2025

By MidCity Utilities (Pty) Ltd

As of 1 July 2025, proposed municipal tariff increases are expected to take effect, pending final approval. Consumers should also prepare for a colder winter compared to last year, which may further impact utility usage and costs.

Highlights

Electricity Tariffs:

• City of Tshwane: Proposed increase of 12%
• City of Johannesburg: Proposed increase of 12.74%
• These increases are significantly above the 2024 average inflation rate of 4.4%
• Eskom had requested a 36% hike, but the approved increase was capped at 12.74%

These steep increases reflect the financial pressures municipalities face due to rising operational costs and Eskom’s pricing. This poses sustainability concerns, particularly for commercial properties and tenants.

City of Tshwane – Proposed Tariff Adjustments:

• Property Rates: Average 4.00% decrease due to the new general valuation roll
• Water: 13.00% increase (well above inflation)
• Electricity: 12.00% increase
• Sanitation: 6.00% increase
• Refuse Removal: 4.60% increase

City of Johannesburg – Proposed Tariff Adjustments:

• Property Rates: 4.60% increase
• Electricity: 12.41% increase
• Water: 13.90% increase
• Sanitation: 13.90% increase
• Refuse Removal: 6.60% increase

What This Means for You

With these increases and a colder winter ahead, it is more important than ever to manage your consumption wisely to keep costs down.

For practical ways to reduce your utility expenses click on the link below:

Energy Saving Tips Brochure (PDF)

To view the 2025/26 City of Tshwane tariffs, click on the link below:

Tariff Increase Brochure 1 July 2025 (PDF)

References:

National Energy Regulator of South Africa (2025) News and Publications. Available at: https://www.nersa.org.za (Accessed: 19 June 2025).
South African Property Owners Association (2025) Property News and Insights. Available at: https://www.sapoa.org.za (Accessed: 19 June 2025)

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By making use of one of the following:

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  • Unipin vouchers
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  • When providing your pre-paid meter number to the cashier, the pre-paid purchase will transfer over to the meter automatically.

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Mobile App or Website

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  • Transfer of credits to the meter can take approximately 10 minutes after the purchase is completed successfully.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Internet Banking

  • Confirmation of transaction is provided by your banking service.

  • You will receive an SMS or email with the value of the token as well as the 20-digit code already loaded on your meter.

  • Purchases through Internet Banking can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Unipin voucher

  • After following the process reflected on the voucher with your cell phone, you will receive confirmation and notification on your device.

  • Purchases through Unipin vouchers can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.