With Easter festivities over, consumers hit with reality of fuel, electricity price hikes

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Nokukhanya Mntambo

JOHANNESBURG - It's a bitter start to April for some consumers, as the cost of living continues to bite.

Households, businesses, and motorists will have to dig deeper into their pockets to foot the bill for higher electricity costs and an increase in fuel prices. These are among other hikes expected to take effect this week.

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With the long weekend out of the way, it's back to reality for consumers.

The first bitter pill to swallow is the increase in the electricity tariff. Eskom said direct customers would be charged an additional 12.74% to keep the lights on.

"On 14 December 2023, NERSA [National Energy Regulator of South Africa] determined the tariff increase for 2024/25, applicable to Eskom's direct customer tariffs from 01 April 2024," said the power utility's spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena.

This means households that use 600 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month could see their monthly electricity bills increase by more than R160.

In another blow, fuel prices will increase for a third consecutive month on Wednesday. Petrol will go up by between 65 and 67 cents a litre, while diesel is set to increase by three cents per litre.