“Don’t Want Anyone Left Behind”: Deadline for Free Basic Electricity in 2026 Is Approaching Fast

• City Power is urging residents to register for free basic electricity before the 31 July deadline
• Qualifying households earning under R7,500 per month will receive 50 kWh of free electricity monthly and won't have to pay the R230 monthly surcharge
• South Africans had mixed reactions to the programme, with some asking who would be paying for the free electricity

The City of Johannesburg shared an urgent notice calling on residents to register for the Free Basic Electricity Programme before the 31 July deadline. City Power launched the drive on 17 June, but only 657 households have registered so far. The programme gives qualifying residents 50 kilowatt-hours of free electricity every month to cover basic needs like cooking, lighting and keeping food cold.

The programme was started for vulnerable households, including unemployed people, pensioners, child-headed households and anyone earning under R7,500 per month. This includes all SASSA grant recipients.

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According to Eskom, the 50 kWh of free electricity is enough to provide basic power for four lightbulbs for four hours, a TV for three hours, an iron for 10 minutes, a cellphone charger for 24 hours and a fridge for 20 minutes daily. The free electricity is given on the 1st of every month, and households with prepaid meters will be able to see when their free electricity runs out.

In Johannesburg, the city has started easing the pressure on households that qualify for free electricity. On top of the free units, these homes don’t have to pay the R230 monthly surcharge that came in mid-2024. For many families, that small break makes a real difference and also helps reduce the temptation of illegal power hookups.

To get onto the system, people need to show that they’re South African citizens or permanent residents living on the property legally. The city asks for a valid ID, something that confirms where you live, your municipal account details, and proof of income.

City Power is also stepping in with support, even offering to replace broken or tampered meters at no cost, as long as the household agrees to have everything regularised. Teams have been moving through all seven regions of Joburg, helping residents get signed up. As Mashava explained, the help is there; the city just needs people to come forward so no one is overlooked.

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Anyone who still needs to register can do it online through the City Power website or by visiting a nearby service centre before 31 July. And residents who haven’t yet received their free basic electricity tokens can still claim them by dialling 130869# or 130269#. All personal information submitted for the registration process will be handled in accordance with privacy protection regulations to ensure the security of residents' data.

SA residents react to the deadline

Social media users reacted to the story, some asking questions while others wondered how the cost would be free and who would be paying:

@ethelrabe wrote:

"Some way or another, someone is gonna pay for that free electricity. Believe me, nothing is free."

@colinkornet shared:

"I'm 65. They should just give free electricity to all over 60 because the paperwork we must do, wow. And then people behind the counter to help you, it's like they own the place."

@ferozaramnarain asked:

"Who is paying for this free electricity?"

@isabelroos questioned:

"Do you have to apply every year if it's granted?"

@cobiekotze said:

"What about us that battle because we look after our SASSA-earning relatives?"

@sandilesilinga added:

"How exactly do you get a metre number on these new ones to buy electricity?"

View the statement here.

More electricity struggles in SA

• Briefly News recently reported on a Joburg man who broke down Eskom's latest ruling on solar power registration.
• The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled against NERSA's approval of municipal electricity tariff increases after AfriForum filed an urgent application.
• Wes Reddy, a Johannesburg-based energy expert, shared the costs of running air conditioners during summer.

Source: Briefly News