Environmental activists and community members picketed outside the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) offices in Pretoria on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, calling for lower electricity prices.

The protest took place on the deadline for public comment on Eskom’s proposed electricity tariff increase.

A small group from Earthlife Johannesburg joined residents from Soweto. They held signs reading “people before profit”, “electricity is a right not a priority” and “NERSA must protect the people”.

Why People are Worried About a New Hike

The anger is tied to a funding shortfall of about R76 billion after the regulator admitted to a calculation error. That shortfall could translate into higher electricity prices, with tariffs potentially rising by about 10% in the current financial year. The miscalculation was linked to the valuation of Eskom’s hardware and profit allocation, and the regulator now needs to make up the gap.

‘People Can’t Keep Paying for This’

Earthlife Africa programmes officer Ulrich Steenkamp said the proposed tariff is “exorbitant” and warned that electricity is already unaffordable for many working-class and poor households.

He also criticised the timing of the process, saying key public participation periods can land over the festive season when many people are distracted or away.

Steenkamp said the reality on the ground is brutal: households are being pushed into choosing between groceries and electricity as prices rise.

What Protesters Want Next

Protesters called on government and the regulator to stop making the public pay for poor energy decisions and to prioritise affordable, people-centred solutions. They also want the regulator to act as a shield for consumers, not a rubber stamp for increases that land hardest on ordinary South Africans.