South African consumers are being hit by rising tariffs and fixed electricity charges that undermine energy saving efforts and discourage solar adoption, according to GoSolr.
South Africa's electricity crisis has entered a new phase where households are no longer being punished by rolling blackouts alone, but increasingly by rising costs that make cutting electricity consumption less effective at reducing monthly bills.
That is the warning contained in GoSolr's latest quarterly Light Paper, which argued that the country's energy challenge has evolved into an affordability crisis driven by escalating tariffs, growing fixed charges and inconsistent municipal pricing structures.
According to the report, electricity tariffs have increased by more than 1 100% since 2007, while the latest Eskom increases of 8.76% followed by a further 8.83% increase have added to the burden facing consumers. Municipal customers often pay even more once local mark ups are applied.
GoSolr said one of the biggest concerns is the sharp rise in fixed charges, which means consumers now pay significant amounts simply to remain connected to the grid, regardless of how much electricity they use.
