Money

Electricity price relief by 15 December: what we know so far

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says households will get relief on power costs, with details due before 15 December 2026. What form it takes, who qualifies and when bills change are not yet known.

By Reported Team

Prepaid electricity meter with a digital display showing units remaining
Photo by VulcanSphere, CC BY 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says households will get relief on the cost of electricity, and that he will explain what it is before the country breaks on 15 December. He has not said what the relief is, who will get it or when it will show on your bill (SABC News).

So for now, your tariff and prepaid units cost the same as before.

What did Ramokgopa say?

Speaking to SABC News on Tuesday, 10 November, at the SA Nuclear and Clean Energy Conference in Centurion, Ramokgopa said load shedding was no longer a crisis but people were struggling to keep up with high prices. He said he was working with Eskom on a price reprieve and had shared ideas with Eskom's chair and CEO (SABC News).

He pointed to spare power stations as part of the answer: "I am sure there's 4 000 MW that is idling," he said, adding that the cost burden is "more disproportionate to the poor" (SABC News).

When will electricity get cheaper?

There is no date. The 15 December promise is for announcing the plan, not for lower prices taking effect (SA Business Lens). No tariff cut, rand saving or way of delivering it has been announced (Insight News Network).

QuestionAnswer so far
Is relief coming?Yes, says the minister
When will details be announced?Before 15 December 2026
What form will it take?Not announced
Who qualifies?Not announced
Will Eskom and municipal customers both benefit?Not announced
When will bills change?Not announced

Sources: SABC News, SA Business Lens.

Why are people asking for relief?

Electricity prices went up 8.1% between July 2025 and July 2026, almost double headline inflation of 4.3%, according to the Competition Commission (Competition Commission).

What help can I get right now?

The main help that already exists is free basic electricity: 50kWh a month for households on their municipality's indigent register (Eskom, SA Government). You apply through your municipality, not Eskom.

Government is separately weighing a rise in free basic electricity to between 200kWh and 300kWh a month, but Ramokgopa has said that is only a proposal (IOL). Reported explained how to register for free basic electricity here.

If you have rooftop solar on Eskom's Homeflex tariff, a separate Nersa decision on fixed charges is due on 26 November. Reported covered that here.

FAQ

When will electricity prices come down in South Africa?

No date has been set. Minister Ramokgopa said he will announce a relief plan before 15 December 2026, but he has not said when it will take effect.

Who will get the electricity price relief?

It has not been announced. The minister said high prices hit poor households hardest, but no eligibility rules have been published.

Is there free electricity I can get now?

Yes. Households on their municipality's indigent register can get 50kWh of free basic electricity a month. Apply at your municipality.

Sources