NERSA announces new 2026/27 municipal tariff application deadlines

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has announced new deadlines for municipalities to submit their electricity tariff applications for the 2026/27 financial year.

The energy regulator said municipal electricity distributors must submit their tariff applications by the end of March, following a recent High Court ruling that adjusted the timelines.

This follows NERSA's approval of Eskom’s retail tariff and structural adjustment application, which allows for a 9.01% electricity tariff increase from 1 July 2026.

The regulator said the public participation process on municipal electricity tariff applications will run until 21 April 2026, with final decisions expected by 11 May 2026.

This is intended to allow municipalities to implement approved tariffs at the start of the new municipal financial year in July.

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The energy regulator said municipalities must also ensure their applications meet governance requirements, including council approval, public consultation, and the submission of audited financial information.

NERSA spokesperson Charles Hlebela warned that missing the deadline could affect the outcome.

"Failure to meet the revised deadlines may affect the processing and approval of the municipal electricity tariff applications. Municipalities that require deviations from the revised timelines may apply to the court for relief, as provided for in the court order of 20 February 2026, provided that good cause is shown," Hlebela said.

NERSA said the tariff applications would be published on its website, allowing members of the public and other stakeholders to submit written comments before final decisions are made.