NERSA accounts for error in Eskom’s electricity tariff calculation

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has taken accountability for an error in Eskom’s electricity tariff calculation that could have meant a double-digit increase for 2026/2027.

The regulator apologised to all South Africans for the error and assured it was in the process of rectifying it through a public comment process.

In January last year 2025, NERSA approved an electricity increase of almost 6% proposed by Eskom, but later realised it had accidentally excluded billions of rand in depreciation costs and returns on its generation assets.

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After realising the initial error in June 2025, NERSA had a secret settlement with the power utility of R54 billion instead of conducting a public review.

NERSA spokesperson Charles Hlebela said they knew they bent the rules.

“The court has said we didn't follow proper public consultation processes and that decision was remitted back to NERSA to do the determination after following public consultation process which is what we are currently doing,” he said.

In December last year, civil and environmental groups challenged this settlement in the Gauteng High Court, which resulted in NERSA being instructed to redo the process and include public comments.

Earthlife programmes officer Ulrich Steenkamp said: “This has been the sixth round of this process, Eskom continually applies for increases, NERSA continually grants them these increases so what have they been doing with the money they've been granted, why are they still in shortfall when they are granted the money from the increases.”

The deadline for public consultation is at 4pm on Wednesday.