By Reuters
South Africa’s energy regulator on Thursday granted state power utility Eskom an average tariff increase of 12.7% for 2025/26, a third of what the debt-laden company had requested.
Eskom had sought increases of about 36% from April, 12% in 2026 and 9% in 2027, prompting opposition in public consultations, with political parties and consumers citing the weak economy and a cost-of-living crisis.
“We are required to ensure that Eskom is sustainable within the short and the long term. At the same time, we are required to ensure that the electricity services that Eskom provides are affordable,” said Thembani Bukula, chairman of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).
The regulator’s decision effectively denies Eskom tens of billions of rand that the company said it needs to deal with coal contracts, a higher carbon tax and rising debt from municipalities.
For the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years, Nersa
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