A storm of protest is brewing after City Power put up its prepaid electricity prices to the majority of its poor and indigent customers by six to 12 times the inflation rate, and well above Eskom’s prepaid tariff rates for the poor.
This article provides some facts and figures comparing City Power’s 2024/25 prepaid electricity tariffs and tariff increases to those of Eskom, focussing on the impact on indigent and poorCity Power’s Residential Prepaid Low tariff is applicable to households in areas served by City Power that are currently formally registered as indigent and appear on the indigent register of theThe Residential Prepaid High tariff is applicable to the significant majority of poor, indigent and other households...
This means that some 95% to 97% of all indigent households in the Johannesburg metropolitan area are in fact not on the indigent register of the City to receive free basic electricity, and therefore the Residential Prepaid High tariff applies, while only 3 to 5% of all indigent households qualify for the Residential Prepaid Low tariff and free basic electricity.
On the other hand, Eskom’s prepaid electricity tariff rates are significantly lower than those of City Power, and are applicable to all indigent households in South Africa, whether they are on the indigent register or not, and there is no monthly fixed charge.