Eskom Tariff Update – Miniflex Non-Local Authority
Your electricity bill is going up.
Here's what changed.
From 1 April 2026, Eskom’s approved tariff increase takes effect. If you’re on the Miniflex tariff at ≤300km transmission distance and supplied at below 500V, this is what you need to know.
8.0%
Energy Rate Increase
8.8%
Fixed Charge Increase
51.6%
Generation Capacity Charge
1 Apr
Effective Date
NERSA has approved Eskom’s 2026/27 tariff application, and the new rates are now in effect. For most Miniflex customers, the headline increase is a broadly consistent 8–8.8% across energy and fixed charges — but one line item breaks sharply from the pack, and it’s worth understanding before your next invoice arrives.
The energy rates
Eskom charges differently depending on the time of day and time of year. Peak rates apply on weekdays only – morning and evening windows – with off-peak rates overnight and all day on Sundays.
Running energy-intensive equipment during peak windows – especially on winter weekdays – costs significantly more per unit.
ACTIVE ENERGY CHARGE — R/KWH (EXCL. VAT) – ≤300km / <500V |
|||
| TIME OF USE | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGH DEMAND SEASON — JUN, JUL, AUG | |||
| Peak | R 6.8459 | R 7.3928 | +8.0% |
| Standard | R 1.7115 | R 1.8482 | +8.0% |
| Off-peak | R 1.1409 | R 1.2320 | +8.0% |
| Off-peak | R 1.1409 | R 1.2320 | +8.0% |
| LOW DEMAND SEASON — SEP THROUGH MAY | |||
| Peak | R 2.8412 | R 3.0682 | +8.0% |
At R7.39/kWh during high-season peak, every 100 kWh you consume in those windows costs R739 – up from R685 last year. For energy-intensive operations running through the morning or evening peaks in winter, the rand impact compounds quickly.
Fixed and capacity charges
The fixed charges – service, administration, network capacity and the legacy charge – all increase by 8.8%, broadly in line with the approved average. These hit your bill regardless of how much energy you consume, so they’re worth tracking even if you’ve reduced your consumption through efficiency or solar.
FIXED & CAPACITY CHARGES (EXCL. VAT) – ≤300km / <500V |
||||
| CHARGE | UNIT | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network demand charge | R/kWh | R 0.2970 | R 0.3230 | +8.8% |
| Legacy charge | R/kWh | R 0.2278 | R 0.2478 | +8.8% |
| Network capacity charge | R/kVA/month | R 49.85 | R 54.22 | +8.8% |
| Service charge | R/POD/day | R 64.28 | R 69.91 | +8.8% |
| Administration charge | R/POD/day | R 12.40 | R 13.49 | +8.8% |
| Generation capacity charge | R/kVA/month | R 3.49 | R 5.29 | +51.6% |
Watch the generation capacity charge. At first glance it looks small – R5.29/kVA/month. But at 51.6% above last year’s rate, it’s the sharpest single increase in the schedule. If your contracted capacity is, say, 500 kVA, that’s an additional R900/month on this line alone compared to 2025/26.
The bottom line
A broadly predictable 8% increase on energy and 8.8% on fixed charges is not surprising given the current inflationary environment and Eskom’s ongoing revenue requirements. The generation capacity charge anomaly aside, the structure of the tariff has remained stable.
What this reinforces, however, is the direction of travel: Eskom tariffs have increased by well over 100% in the past decade, and the trajectory shows no signs of reversing. Every annual increase widens the savings gap between grid electricity and behind-the-meter solar generation – making the economics of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or owned solar installation more compelling with each cycle.
If you’d like to understand what the new tariff means in rand terms for your specific site – and what a solar offset would save you at current and projected rates – get in touch with the Nesa team.
Know what you're paying – and what you could save.
We’ll model your bill under the new tariff and show you the solar savings
opportunity at your site. No obligation.