Load shedding is down — so why are South Africans paying more for electricity?

Nearly three-quarters of South African SMEs say improved electricity reliability boosted their operations.

South Africans are experiencing far fewer power cuts than in recent years, but many households now find themselves facing another electricity woe: rising bills.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved an average electricity tariff increase of 8.76% for Eskom direct customers from April 1 2026 and 9.01% for municipal customers from July 1 2026. According to NERSA, the differing increases are due to the separate implementation periods for Eskom and municipal distributors. The increases come despite improvements in electricity supply and a sharp reduction in load shedding.

For many consumers, the question is simple: if the lights are staying on, why do electricity costs continue to climb?

South Africans are facing higher electricity bills despite experiencing the most stable power supply in years.