South Africans have until 20 September 2026 to submit their views on the Draft Revised Electricity Pricing Policy, the first overhaul of the framework in 18 years, Cabinet confirmed this week.
The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) published the draft policy for public comment after Cabinet approved it, SAnews.gov.za reported on Wednesday.
“The revision of the EPP is therefore necessary to ensure that Government’s electricity pricing policy remains fit for purpose and continues to provide clear policy direction as South Africa transforms to an increasingly competitive electricity market,” the DEE said.
The update replaces the 2008 policy and accounts for private sector participation, distributed generation, and wheeling.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the draft compels Eskom and municipalities to issue itemised bills separating energy costs from other charges.
“The bill that you are receiving must be able to itemise how the municipality or Eskom has arrived at that which they say you owe the municipality, or you owe Eskom,” Ramokgopa told a media briefing, according to a Sunday Times report.
“It’s going to show what are the energy costs, what are the costs associated with converting, for example, coal into electricity.”
The policy also blocks utilities from passing on costs caused by their own system inefficiencies.
A new requirement for the energy regulator Nersa to publish a 10-year electricity price forecast aims to give households and businesses long-term cost certainty.
“We want to create a 10-year horizon,” Ramokgopa said.
However, independent electricity pricing specialist Deon Conradie questioned whether Nersa has the capacity to handle its expanded role.
“There’s no proper plan of how to capacitate Nersa to move from the old market structure towards the new market structure,” Conradie told TimesLIVE.
The Conversation reported that the draft policy does not guarantee poor households more free basic electricity.
Instead, it requires two government departments and National Treasury to decide annually on the allocation, leaving the amount uncertain.
That contradicts a Sunday Times claim that qualifying households would receive 200 kWh to 300 kWh per month, up from the current 50 kWh.
Nellis Bester, chairperson of the Ferroalloys Producers Association, said the pricing reform cannot be viewed in isolation.
“You cannot look at the EPP in isolation. The different reforms need to work together to provide businesses with greater visibility over future electricity costs,” Bester said.
The draft policy and submission details are available on the DEE website. CapeFlats.co.za could not independently confirm the 20 September deadline beyond the SAnews report.
We will check with the department and update readers on any extension.
Have Your Say on Draft Electricity Pricing Rules by 20 September, Cabinet Says
South Africans have until 20 September 2026 to submit their views on the Draft Revised Electricity Pricing Policy, the first overhaul of the framework in 18 years, Cabinet confirmed this week.
The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) published the draft policy for public comment after Cabinet approved it, SAnews.gov.za reported on Wednesday.
“The revision of the EPP is therefore necessary to ensure that Government’s electricity pricing policy remains fit for purpose and continues to provide clear policy direction as South Africa transforms to an increasingly competitive electricity market,” the DEE said.
The update replaces the 2008 policy and accounts for private sector participation, distributed generation, and wheeling.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the draft compels Eskom and municipalities to issue itemised bills separating energy costs from other charges.
“The bill that you are receiving must be able to itemise how the municipality or Eskom has arrived at that which they say you owe the municipality, or you owe Eskom,” Ramokgopa told a media briefing, according to a Sunday Times report.
“It’s going to show what are the energy costs, what are the costs associated with converting, for example, coal into electricity.”
The policy also blocks utilities from passing on costs caused by their own system inefficiencies.
A new requirement for the energy regulator Nersa to publish a 10-year electricity price forecast aims to give households and businesses long-term cost certainty.
“We want to create a 10-year horizon,” Ramokgopa said.
However, independent electricity pricing specialist Deon Conradie questioned whether Nersa has the capacity to handle its expanded role.
“There’s no proper plan of how to capacitate Nersa to move from the old market structure towards the new market structure,” Conradie told TimesLIVE.
The Conversation reported that the draft policy does not guarantee poor households more free basic electricity.
Instead, it requires two government departments and National Treasury to decide annually on the allocation, leaving the amount uncertain.
That contradicts a Sunday Times claim that qualifying households would receive 200 kWh to 300 kWh per month, up from the current 50 kWh.
Nellis Bester, chairperson of the Ferroalloys Producers Association, said the pricing reform cannot be viewed in isolation.
“You cannot look at the EPP in isolation. The different reforms need to work together to provide businesses with greater visibility over future electricity costs,” Bester said.
The draft policy and submission details are available on the DEE website. CapeFlats.co.za could not independently confirm the 20 September deadline beyond the SAnews report.
We will check with the department and update readers on any extension.
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