Newcastillians should prepare for a drastic increase in their monthly electricity bills. This anticipated surge follows Eskom gearing up to implement a price hike in its electricity tariffs from 1 April 2024, with residential Homepower rates set to soar by a hefty 12.74%.
The impending rise in electricity tariffs has been greenlit by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), marking a significant blow to consumers. This increase follows closely on the heels of a steep 18.49% tariff hike imposed in April last year.
As reported by Newcastillian News in 2023, Thami Ntuli, Chairperson of the KZN South African Local Government Association (SALGA), cautioned that such hikes would adversely affect struggling residents and municipal revenues, heavily reliant on electricity sales.
To read more on the previous price adjustment, click here.
Now, as another price hike is slated for implementation from the start of April 2024, attention is drawn to the fact that municipalities will also note an increase of 12.72% as of 1 July 2024.
With South Africans expected to dig deeper into their pockets for electricity, the Democratic Alliance (DA) voiced concerns in January 2024 about the price hike.
At the time, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, the DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises, highlighted the dilemma faced by South Africans. She said, “If this trend of extortionate electricity price hikes continues, electricity will soon become a luxury that many will not be able to afford and will further force many to resort to unsafe sources of energy in order to meet their energy needs. Moreover, the country currently runs the risk of experiencing an exponential increase in energy poverty, where a considerable number of households are struggling to remain connected to the grid due to exorbitant electricity prices.”
As residents gear up for a further rise in the cost of living, we invite your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Comments 6
Its really time to vote ANC crackers out. Less electricity but bigger bills…..
Why is Eskom targeting newcastle. We must have loadshedding on top of this? And when is this price hike how are we going to survive? Fuck the ANC
GPI is only 6%. This is surely extremely unethical. Something needs to be done!!
As a small business owner, every little bit of profit that there is to be made goes to the foot the electricity bill. As a business we get charged at the highest scale and also double the amount for basic electricity supply. It is ridiculous to try and make a living and to keep your doors open in order for your employees to have an income, but soon it will not be possible as doors will have to close. It will mean more unemployment and families that are suffering. End of February saw an staggering R800 increase in my business electricity account and that for a shop that is only operating between 8 – 5, not Saturdays and Sundays but the electricity consumption is higher than my household account. How is that even possible when all plugs are switched off at the end of the day and only the fridge is running (Small household fridge)?
People it’s time we change and vote for the right party we need to exclude the ANC totally from our country they have done nothing good but make our people suffer in our country while they earn millions
Make the right choice vote for the right party
Why must the average Joe keep paying more for Electricity when there is literally billions that remain uncollected.
The bigger the increase the less people will pay.