According to the latest official numbers from Eskom, there are 900,000 South Africans registered to receive free basic electricity from the power utility.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, the North Gauteng High Court’s Justice Joseph Raulinga ruled that R10 billion was to be added to Eskom’s allowable revenue in the same financial year.
Raulinga also ordered an 5.44c/kWh increase, which will see Eskom customers pay 134.30c/kWh as the standard tariff.
Eskom welcomed ruling on Tuesday evening, saying the judgment would help the power utility recover efficiently incurred costs for the production of electricity.
“The [ruling] also contributes to the user pay principle and is likely to lessen the financial burden of supporting Eskom on the government, releasing the government to focus on other priorities.