South African energy regulator grants Eskom smaller tariff hikes than expected

South Africa's energy regulator Nersa on Thursday granted struggling state power firm Eskom average power price increases of 9.41 per cent, 8.10 per cent and 5.22 per cent over the next three financial years, far below what Eskom had asked for. Nersa also allowed Eskom to recover 3.869 billion rands ($270 million) from its customers for electricity supplied in the 2017/18 financial year, significantly below the 21.6 billion rands than Eskom had applied for.

Cash-strapped Eskom is struggling to emerge from a financial crisis. It wanted power price increases of 17.1 per cent in 2019/20, 15.4 per cent in 2020/21 and 15.5 per cent in 2021/22. ($1 = 14.3353 rand)