Consumers to be punished for Nersa’s R54 billion blunder

SOUTH Africans are being asked to foot the bill for a R54 billion regulatory blunder. Eskom’s electricity prices are set to rise by up to 8.8% annually — not because we're using more, but because of past miscalculations.

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Residents and business owners must brace for another wave of financial hardship as the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) confirms substantial increases in electricity tariffs over the next two years.

This unsettling news follows the revelation of a R54 million error in Nersa’s approval of Eskom’s tariff application, which has now culminated in a significant strain on consumers already battling economic challenges.

Earlier this year, Nersa had already approved a 12.7% increase in electricity tariffs for the 2025/26 fiscal year, alongside planned hikes of 5.36% and 6.19% for the following two financial years.

However, in a recent announcement, Nersa identified underestimations in certain components of Eskom’s application, resulting in a discrepancy that has raised eyebrows and sparked outrage.