City of Joburg clarifies confusion over electricity surcharge

The City of Johannesburg has clarified the confusion around a surcharge on electricity tariffs.

The City’s Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds says the surcharge has remained the same, contrary to reports of an additional R70 to the original amount.

Introduced in July 2024, the surcharge sparked widespread backlash amid growing concerns over rising electricity costs.

Arnolds also says the City of Johannesburg is not alone in adding surcharges to electricity tariffs.

“A surcharge has been put in place, not only in the City of Johannesburg, but Cape Town, already has their much longer than us and Ekurhuleni is following, Tshwane is following and so are all the other metros are following.”

“But let me set the record straight, the surcharge of R200 remains at R200, it’s not going to be increased to R270, it remains at R200 and it will not change,” explains Arnolds.