Johannesburg electricity bills rise as City Power’s new tariffs kick in

Cape Town – Electricity customers supplied by Johannesburg’s City Power are paying more for electricity from 1 July after the utility implemented a new tariff increase approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

The new tariffs, which came into effect on Wednesday, represent an average increase of 8.63%.

City Power said the increase is lower than the tariff hikes approved for both NERSA and Eskom, describing the adjustment as an effort to cushion consumers from the full impact of rising electricity costs.

“From 1 July 2026, City Power’s new NERSA-approved electricity tariffs are officially in effect,” the utility said in a statement posted on social media.

From 1 July 2026, City Power’s new NERSA approved electricity tariffs are officially in effect. The average increase of 8.63% remains lower than both the approved NERSA and Eskom increases, while continued support for qualifying indigent customers remains in place.… pic.twitter.com/81ySreWIvn

— @CityPowerJhb (@CityPowerJhb) July 1, 2026

The utility added that it would continue providing support to qualifying indigent customers despite the increase.

The tariff adjustment means households and businesses supplied by City Power will have to budget for higher electricity bills from July, although the utility maintains the increase is more moderate than those implemented elsewhere in the electricity sector.

City Power encouraged customers to familiarise themselves with the new tariff structure and continue using electricity efficiently to help manage costs.

City Power consumers will have to dig deep in their pockets as sharp price hikes kick in. The power utility says it’s adjusting its tariffs for the year to 8.63% lower than NERSA and Eskom to help cushion customers against rising electricity costs. Tune in to #eNCA, channel… pic.twitter.com/hrwwN6TwJa

— eNCA (@eNCA) July 1, 2026

The increase comes as South Africans continue to face mounting pressure from rising living expenses, with electricity costs remaining a significant household expense.

The increases form part of a broader national adjustment after NERSA approved 176 municipal and local authority electricity tariff applications for the 2026/27 financial year following Eskom’s tariff restructuring plan, eNCA reported.

Experts have warned that higher electricity prices will place additional financial pressure on households, particularly working-class communities that continue to experience load reduction despite improvements in national power supply.