Ndlambe Electricity Tariffs Spark Concern Among Residents
PARRA is urging residents of Ndlambe Municipality to take a closer look at their electricity usage following the announcement of tariff increases for the 2026/2027 financial year.
This comes after recent public participation meetings, where municipal representative Mr Heinrich Barnard presented the proposed tariff increases. While the presentation was “impressive” in its length, several attendees raised concerns about inconsistencies and errors in the information provided.
According to the municipality, electricity tariffs for domestic users will increase by 7%. For households using conventional supply meters, charges will vary depending on consumption levels. Usage up to 50 kWh will cost R2.6616 per kWh, increasing to R3.7460 for consumption between 350–600 kWh, and rising further to R4.3926 for usage above 600 kWh.
In contrast, prepaid electricity users will pay a flat rate of R2.5847 per kWh, receiving the same number of units regardless of when tokens are purchased.
However, the most significant concern remains the continued rise in the capacity charge which PARRA has been challenging the Municipality over for the past 3 years. The capacity charge is a fixed fee based on the size of a household’s electrical supply. First introduced in 2023/2024 at R13.24 per amp, the charge was reduced to R4.99 in 2024/2025 following strong intervention by PARRA. But despite further challenges from PARRA, the Municipality increased it sharply to R10.97 in 2025/2026 (120%) and it is now set to rise again to R17.61 in 2026/2027 (60.5%)
It is imperative that you assess your electricity needs and consider reducing your capacity where possible. Smaller households may be able to operate efficiently on 20 to 30 amps, while households of two to four people could typically manage on a 40-amp circuit breaker. Careful management of high-consumption appliances is essential to avoid overloading the system.
If a circuit breaker trips you will, after few minutes, be able to reset it. However, if it trips 3 times, you will need CDR to come and reset the meter potentially at an additional cost. In that case you may need to increase your circuit breaker capacity.
For those wishing to reduce capacity, the process differs depending on the type of meter. Households with conventional meters must hire a qualified electrician to adjust the circuit breaker, submit proof to the municipality, complete a form and the Municipality will update your rates invoice accordingly. Prepaid users, on the other hand, need to notify the municipality after which a technician will be scheduled to reconfigure the meter.
As an example: 40 R/Amp x R17.61 = R704,40. 60 R/Amp x R17.61 = R 1056.60
Additional concerns have been raised regarding Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG), such as solar installations. Mr Barnard insisted that as per legislation, all SSEG users have to register their unit with the Municipality, pay an extra capacity charge of R116.91 AND purchase at a Time of Use meter at a cost of R5,500. The TOU chart covers High Demand (June to August) and Low Demand (September to May) and specifies the cost of electricity usage on weekdays and weekends with Peak, Standard and Off-Peak hours. The charge for electricity for SSEG customers during Standard Time will be R2,9076 (R2.5847 non SSEG) and R8,1865 during peak hours R1.5847 non SSEG).
Despite Mr Barnard and the Municipality’s insistence regarding legislation covering these SSEG charges, PARRA has received a communication from NERSA stating:” Please note that the rules for SSEG were never issued, the legislation to enact them was not passed”.
Afriforum and OUTA are challenging the imposition of these charges and we wait to hear the outcome.
For more information about PARRA or to become a member, please visit our website at www.parra.org.za or contact Sally Greasley on