The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) announced on 17 March 2025 that the Energy Regulator, considered and approved the Eskom Retail Tariffs’ average tariff increase of 12.74% for Eskom direct customers and 11.32% for municipalities.
The approved standard tariff increase of 12.74% was implemented on 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026 for Eskom direct customers, and the 11.32% increase will be implemented on 1 July 2025 for municipal customers.
The difference in percentage is due to the difference in the implementation dates of Eskom direct customers and municipalities buying from Eskom. Municipalities also approve their own budgets and the 11.32% may differ from one municipality to the next.
WPM will send further communication on the increases to be implemented by the various municipalities in the coming months.
Did you know that your geyser contributes up to 30% of your monthly energy usage? Switch it off during peak times, between 5pm to 9pm to help reduce demand on the grid during this period. You can insulate your geyser and hot water pipes to reduce heat loss and in so doing make your water system more efficient. There are a multitude of timer switches available on the market that your electrician can install for you.
Showering uses considerably less water than bathing and when using a water-efficient showerhead in your shower, you are doubling your efforts to save on hot water, which means less work for your geyser. As a geyser is depleted of water it is refilled with cold water that needs to be heated again.
Replacing all your incandescent bulbs with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) will contribute greatly towards reducing your electricity consumption and your bill. Please also remember to switch off the lights if you’re not occupying a room. A day night switch for your external lighting will ensure the lights go off automatically for those days you wish to sleep in.
Don’t leave your appliances on standby mode, as they still use up to 15% of their operating power. Rather switch appliances off at the plug point and do not forget to unplug your cell phone charger after your phone has charged!
During winter it’s best to keep your room temperature set between 18° C – 20° C. Dress warmly, use an extra jacket, blankets and a hot water bottle to keep warm. Avoid using a heater if you can. A bar heater or oil heater consumes a lot of electricity. A gas heater may offer an alternative source to heat up a room.
