An average South African household could be spending as much as R480 extra on their monthly electricity bills from April, translating to an additional R5 760 each year. This is according to Alumo Energy business director Jean-Phillipe Ghyoot, demonstrating the growing impact that continuous double-digit tariff hikes are having on household budgets.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved a 12,74% increase for 2024/2025 in January, which will impact Eskom-supplied customers from 1 April, and municipal customers from 01 July this year. This comes on top of the 18.65% increase implemented in July last year. “There’s no sugarcoating South Africa’s situation right now regarding power, whether at home or in the workplace. We not only have an unreliable supply, but we are also facing a second front of attack in the form of ongoing price hikes,” notes Ghyoot. “The impact of load shedding on our daily lives, work, and businesses means that alternative energy sources, both at home and at work, are now no longer luxuries, but necessitie