Electricity prices in South Africa

South Africa has no official national average household price, so this figure is Eskom's Homelight 60A tariff for homes it supplies directly with a standard 60 A prepaid connection, in force from 1 April 2026 after NERSA's approval. Homelight has one price per kWh, including 15% VAT, and no fixed or daily charge, so every unit costs the same however much a household uses. Low-use homes on a 20 A supply pay R2.70 per kWh on Homelight 20A, and larger homes on Homepower pay R3.56 per kWh plus daily fixed charges. Many households, especially in cities, buy from their municipality instead at its own tariff, which changes each July, so check your own bill or token slip.

Checked against Eskom on November 13, 2026.

South Africa's state-owned utility Eskom generates most of the country's electricity, mainly from large coal-fired power stations, with one nuclear plant at Koeberg and a fast-growing share of wind and solar. Years of breakdowns at ageing coal plants led to rolling power cuts, known as load-shedding, which pushed many households and businesses to install rooftop solar, batteries and inverters.

Tariffs are approved by the energy regulator, NERSA. Eskom sells directly to many households, mostly on prepaid meters, and its new prices take effect each April, while municipalities buy in bulk from Eskom and resell to most urban homes at their own tariffs from each July. Low-use households can get a subsidised tariff, registered indigent households receive a small free monthly allowance, and prices have risen much faster than inflation for years.