The Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy has called for urgent and enforceable measures to protect consumers from excessive electricity tariffs, particularly where charges exceed levels approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).
The committee raised its concerns during an engagement with NERSA at the regulator’s offices in Pretoria on Wednesday, as part of a workshop on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act 28 of 2024. The meeting formed part of the committee’s week-long oversight programme in Limpopo and Gauteng.
Committee Chairperson Ms Nonkosi Mvana said it was unacceptable for electricity consumers to bear the brunt of inflated tariffs imposed by some distributors, especially municipalities.
Ms Mvana further said: “It is deeply concerning that ordinary households and businesses continue to face electricity prices that are significantly higher than those approved by NERSA. This places undue financial strain on consumers and undermines the principles of fairness and affordability that must guide the electricity sector.”
The committee appealed to NERSA to urgently introduce practical and enforceable mechanisms to shield consumers from excessive tariffs passed on by electricity distributors. Members emphasised that municipalities must not be allowed to charge electricity prices that exceed regulated limits.
They noted NERSA’s briefing that four municipalities are currently under investigation for alleged non-compliance with approved tariff structures. While welcoming the intervention, the committee stressed that regulatory action must be decisive, transparent and timely to prevent the exploitation of consumers through unlawful or unjustified electricity pricing.
Ms Mvana said the effective implementation of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act was critical to strengthening regulatory oversight and compliance within the electricity supply industry. “The Act must be implemented in a manner that prioritises consumer protection, affordability and fairness, while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of the electricity sector,” she said.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to exercising rigorous oversight over both NERSA and electricity distributors, adding that it would closely monitor progress on investigations and remedial actions aimed at curbing excessive electricity tariffs.
Justice Molafo
5 February 2026
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