News

A Brighter Spark: Joburg Doubles Free Electricity for Vulnerable Households

Published

2 months ago

August 8, 2025

Chiraag

Johannesburg free electricity increase, FBE allocation 120 kWh, vulnerable households support 2025, City Power ESP policy rollout, energy access relief Joburg, Joburg ETC

In a city where electricity is often a luxury, Johannesburg has quietly made a meaningful change. Starting now, low-income families can get up to 120 kWh of free electricity per month, a real lifeline for those feeling the pinch.

Why it matters now

When your prepaid meter runs dry too soon in the evening, it’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a disguise for unease. That’s where the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme steps in, especially for households already stretched thin and battling daily costs.

From 30 kWh to 120 kWh, a 4x increase

Previously, qualified households received only 30 kWh per month. Now, following the City’s latest changes to the Extended Social Package, allocations are based on both household size and a new vulnerability index. This means:

Households of four to seven people now receive 80 kWh per month
Households with eight or more people receive 120 kWh per month

These allocations will also be adjusted annually in line with inflation (CPI), ensuring the support keeps pace with rising costs.

Getting registered isn’t rocket science, but it helps to know what’s needed

Thanks to a ramped-up registration drive, even reaching into Eskom-supplied areas like Diepsloot, Ivory Park, and Orange Farm, the city has already signed up over 130 000 households, ahead of the December 2025 deadline.

Registration is facilitated at City Power service centres, pop-up sites, regional offices, or via City Power’s website. Applicants must bring:

• South African ID
• Prepaid meter number (City Power or Eskom)
• Proof of income or Sassa grant
• Three months’ bank statements or an affidavit if unemployed
• Proof of residence or a letter from a ward councillor
• Municipal account, if available

Some households are still waiting for allocations due to missing documentation. City Power is actively reaching out to guide these residents through the process.

More than electricity, it’s about dignity and security

Beyond relief from rising electricity costs, this revised policy tackles electricity theft and vandalism. By increasing legitimate access, the City hopes to reduce cable theft, meter meddling, and power losses across its infrastructure.

As Jack Sekwaila, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure, put it, “We are serious about delivering tangible support to our most vulnerable residents.” In a city bustling with life, sometimes the quietest innovations, like a little more light in the corner, make the biggest difference.