.png)
10 signatures reached
To: NERSA, Eskom, Electricity Minister & Finance Minister
Stop the electricity price hike now - tell Eskom NO
.png)
We only have until 2 October to object to Eskom’s plan to increase electricity prices by 8,83%. If enough of us send in public comments explaining why we can’t afford a price increase, NERSA, the electricity regulator, may have the evidence it needs to reject Eskom’s plan.
NERSA has said public input may limit price increases, but only if they receive enough public comments from people explaining why they can’t afford to pay more [1].
We’ve created a template public comment that outlines why NERSA should reject any price increase for consumers, can you take a moment to add a couple sentences explaining why you are unable to afford a 8.8% price increase?
For amandla.mobi member Kegomoditswe from the North West, who currently pays R400 for electricity a month, Eskom’s plan would increase electricity costs by R32 each month, and she would only be able to use electricity for lights or give up two loaves of bread a month.
Thank you to Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group (PMBEJD). Their research and analysis is used for this submission.
Why is this important?
We are already struggling to put food on the table [2], and now Eskom has asked NERSA for permission to increase electricity prices by 8,83% in 2027 [3]. This is the same Eskom we carried through load-shedding when our taxes paid their debt relief and we paid more for electricity.
Now load-shedding is over, and Eskom has excess electricity [4]. Treasury and Eskom should cut electricity prices to increase demand and help us during this cost-of-living crisis. Eskom cannot just raise electricity prices every year and make big profits at our expense.
Government and politicians will claim that households that can’t afford electricity prices will get free electricity and water from the municipalities' Free Basic Services (FBS) program. But that program needs major fixing. Research by PARI found that municipalities are given money to provide free electricity and water to 11 million households, but only about 2.5 million households receive free basics [5]. Those who do get free basics must jump through municipality hoops for a small amount of free electricity. Decision-makers must reduce electricity prices and implement PARI’s recommendations to link Free Basic Services with the SASSA beneficiary registry. Municipalities should only receive funds once they can show they have actually delivered free electricity and water.
The Minister of Finance must make cutting electricity prices for consumers a condition of Eskom's debt-relief program. If electricity prices are allowed to increase, President Ramaphosa and Minister Godongwana must increase social grants significantly.
The Government of National Unity (GNU) promised to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, but continues to fail us. We refuse to accept this.
References:
[1] Public comments for Eskom’s proposed 8.83% tariff hike for 2027 open. Themba Radebe for SABC News. 8 September 2026
[2] South Africa should wage a fully-fledged war against poverty, Khutso Makua for Mail & Guardian, 10 February 2026.
[3] Electricity bills to rise by 8.8% if Eskom gets its way with NERSA, Nosipho Radebe for SABC, 5 September 2026.
[4] Eskom's power-generating capacity at a record high; its sales at a record low, by Engineering News, 4 September 2026.
[5] https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/20250801_PolicyBrief_FreeBasicServices_Ledger.pdf