Eskom Tariff Increase History (2000-2026) - Electricity Price Tracker
Eskom electricity prices have increased by over 1571% since 2000 - far exceeding inflation. This page tracks every tariff increase from 2000 to 2026, with interactive charts, inflation comparison, and a calculator to see the impact on your bill.
Eskom Tariff Increase History (2000-2026)
Average Electricity Rate (c/kWh)
Annual Tariff Increase (%)
Year-by-Year Tariff Data
| Year | Tariff Increase | Avg Rate (c/kWh) | CPI Inflation | Tariff vs CPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.2% | 14 c/kWh | 5.4% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | 15 c/kWh | 5.7% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | 16 c/kWh | 9.2% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | 17 c/kWh | 5.8% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | 17 c/kWh | 1.4% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | 18 c/kWh | 3.4% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | 19 c/kWh | 4.7% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | 20 c/kWh | 7.1% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 27.5% | 25 c/kWh | 11.5% | +16.0% |
| 2009 | 31.3% | 33 c/kWh | 7.1% | +24.2% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | 41 c/kWh | 4.3% | +20.5% |
| 2011 | 25.8% | 52 c/kWh | 5% | +20.8% |
| 2012 | 16% | 60 c/kWh | 5.6% | +10.4% |
| 2013 | 8% | 65 c/kWh | 5.8% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 8% | 70 c/kWh | 6.1% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 12.7% | 79 c/kWh | 4.6% | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | 86 c/kWh | 6.3% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | 88 c/kWh | 5.3% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | 93 c/kWh | 4.7% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 9.4% | 102 c/kWh | 4% | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 6.9% | 109 c/kWh | 3.3% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | 126 c/kWh | 4.5% | +11.1% |
| 2022 | 9.6% | 138 c/kWh | 6.9% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 18.7% | 164 c/kWh | 6.1% | +12.6% |
| 2024 | 12.7% | 185 c/kWh | 4.4% | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 12.7% | 208 c/kWh | 4.5% | +8.2% |
| 2026(approved) | 12.7% | 234 c/kWh | 4.8% | +7.9% |
What Would Your 2000 Bill Cost Today?
Electricity rates have increased 1571% since 2000. Enter what you paid in 2000 to see what the same usage would cost today.
Eskom vs Inflation
Since 2000, Eskom tariffs have increased by over 1571%, while cumulative CPI inflation over the same period has been approximately 180%. This means electricity prices have risen roughly 9 times faster than general inflation. From 2000 to 2007, increases were modest (2-6% per year), roughly tracking inflation. The dramatic escalation began in 2008 with a 27.5% increase, followed by 31.3% in 2009 and 24.8% in 2010. Even in recent years, tariff increases of 12-19% have significantly outpaced inflation of 3-7%.
Why Electricity Is So Expensive in South Africa
Several factors have driven electricity prices to their current levels:
- Medupi and Kusile cost overruns: These two coal-fired power stations were originally budgeted at R163 billion combined but ended up costing over R450 billion. Much of this was financed with debt that ratepayers are now servicing.
- Aging fleet: South Africa’s older power stations require increasingly expensive maintenance. Unplanned breakdowns (known as UCLF - Unplanned Capability Loss Factor) have regularly exceeded 30%, meaning nearly a third of capacity is unavailable at any given time.
- Municipal debt: Municipalities owe Eskom over R70 billion in unpaid electricity bills. This bad debt gets passed on to paying customers through higher tariffs.
- Eskom’s debt burden: With over R400 billion in total debt, a significant portion of the tariff goes to servicing interest payments rather than improving infrastructure.
- Declining sales volumes: As tariffs rise, more customers install solar panels or reduce consumption, but Eskom’s fixed costs remain the same. This creates a “death spiral” where fewer units sold means higher prices per unit.
- Coal cost increases: The cost of coal supplied to Eskom has increased significantly, partly due to higher export prices making domestic supply more expensive.
What This Means for Your Bill
The impact on household electricity bills has been dramatic. A family that paid R500 per month in 2000 for the same electricity usage would now be paying approximately R8,357 per month in 2026. This is why many South African households have taken steps to reduce their electricity consumption or switch to alternatives:
- Solar panels - a growing number of homes and businesses are installing solar PV systems to reduce their dependence on Eskom.
- Energy efficiency - LED lighting, gas cooking, solar geysers, and heat pumps can significantly reduce consumption.
- Prepaid meters - switching to prepaid electricity helps households monitor and manage their consumption more carefully.
- Time-of-use tariffs - where available, shifting heavy usage to off-peak hours can reduce costs.
Looking to reduce your electricity costs? Try our Solar Savings Calculator to see how much you could save with solar panels, or use our Electricity Cost Calculator to understand your current electricity spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has Eskom tariff increased?
Eskom electricity tariffs have increased by approximately 1571% since 2000. The average Homelight tariff went from about 14 c/kWh in 2000 to approximately 234 c/kWh in 2026. This means electricity costs roughly 16.7 times what it did in 2000 - far outpacing inflation, which has averaged around 5% per year over the same period.
What was the Eskom tariff increase for 2026?
The approved Eskom tariff increase for 2026 is 12.74%. This brings the average Homelight residential tariff to approximately 234 c/kWh. This increase was approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and takes into account Eskom's revenue requirements, debt servicing, and infrastructure maintenance needs.
How much has electricity gone up in the last 10 years?
From 2016 to 2026, Eskom electricity tariffs have increased from approximately 86 c/kWh to 234 c/kWh - an increase of about 172%. During the same period, general inflation (CPI) totalled approximately 60%. This means electricity prices have risen nearly 3 times faster than general inflation over the last decade.
Why does Eskom keep increasing tariffs?
Eskom's tariff increases are driven by several factors: (1) Massive debt - Eskom carries over R400 billion in debt, much of it from the Medupi and Kusile power station builds. (2) Aging infrastructure requiring expensive maintenance and upgrades. (3) High primary energy costs (coal). (4) Municipal non-payment and electricity theft. (5) Declining sales volumes as customers switch to solar, which spreads fixed costs over fewer units sold. (6) Operational inefficiencies and high staffing costs. NERSA approves tariff increases to ensure Eskom can cover its costs and continue supplying electricity.
Tariff data is based on Eskom Homelight tariff schedules and NERSA decisions. CPI figures are from Statistics South Africa. Rates shown are approximate averages and actual tariffs vary by municipality, tariff category, and consumption level. Last updated March 2026.
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