From today, Johannesburg residents will be paying more for electricity and municipal services, as new tariffs for the 2025/26 financial year take effect.
City Power has announced a general electricity price hike of 12.4%. However, the actual increase will vary depending on the customer’s usage and tariff category. For those on the Residential Prepaid High tariff, the average increase will be just over 11%, though the monthly service fee remains unchanged at R200.
Despite the increase, there’s some relief for low-income households. City Power says it has measures in place to protect vulnerable residents from the full impact of the new rates. Customers registered under the city’s indigent support program will continue to be exempt from the R70 service charge and the R130 network capacity charge — saving them R200 each month. They’ll also keep receiving 50kWh of free basic electricity every month under the expanded social package.
Acknowledging the difficult economic climate, City Power says these efforts aim to shield the city’s poorest residents from further financial strain, while still allowing the utility to maintain and expand services across Johannesburg.