Eskom Seeks 8.84% Municipal Power Hike From July
Eskom has asked municipalities to charge 8.84% more for electricity from 1 July 2027, pending a regulator decision.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Utilities
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Eskom has asked municipalities to charge 8.84% more for electricity from 1 July 2027. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa is due to decide on the request on 26 November.
Why it matters
The request would raise the cost of electricity that municipalities pass on to residents and businesses, and households that buy directly from Eskom would be affected from 1 April 2027. The outcome will shape household budgets in South Africa's cities, including Johannesburg, which raised its electricity prices by 8.63% in July 2026.
Eskom's proposed 8.84% increase follows a 9.01% average rise in its price to municipalities from July 2026, and Johannesburg raised its own electricity prices by 8.63% that month. The regulator has yet to decide on the request, which is due on 26 November.
The players
Eskom
Eskom is South Africa's state-owned electricity utility, which supplies power to municipalities and directly to some households.
National Energy Regulator of South Africa
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa is the independent body that reviews and decides on electricity tariff requests in the country.
City of Johannesburg
The City of Johannesburg is South Africa's largest metropolitan municipality, responsible for distributing electricity to residents in the city.
The details
Municipalities must send full electricity tariff requests to the regulator by 30 March each year, and the regulator must finish its tariff decisions by 5 May. New tariffs take effect at the start of the financial year on 1 July, and households in Soweto that buy directly from Eskom would see their increase start on 1 April 2027.
Timeline
July 2026: The City of Johannesburg raised electricity prices by 8.63%.
26 November 2026: The National Energy Regulator is due to decide on Eskom's tariff request.
30 March 2027: Johannesburg must send its electricity tariff request to the regulator.
1 July 2027: Eskom's proposed 8.84% increase for municipalities would take effect.
Big Picture
Eskom's request is being considered within the regulator's annual municipal tariff cycle, which requires filings by 30 March and decisions by 5 May. The 8.84% proposal comes after the 9.01% average rise in Eskom's municipal price from July 2026.
Households buying electricity directly from Eskom, including many in Soweto, would see any approved increase start on 1 April 2027. Residents served by municipalities would face higher bills if the regulator approves the 8.84% request from 1 July 2027.
The takeaway
Households should plan for possible electricity price rises in the coming year, since the regulator's decision on 26 November will determine the increase. Checking whether your household buys power directly from Eskom or through a municipality will show when any change would apply.
What happens next
The National Energy Regulator is due to decide on Eskom's tariff request on 26 November 2026, and Johannesburg must file its own request by 30 March 2027.
Further reading
For more on how electricity pricing is set across the country, see Utilities coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Scrolla.
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