JOHANNESBURG — City Power urges residents to register for free electricity before July 31. Find out how to qualify. Stories Shaping South Africa Today!
As South Africans battle a 12.7% electricity price hike, ongoing Stage 2 load shedding and sky-high living costs, Joburg residents have one glimmer of relief: free electricity — if they act fast.
City Power is calling on all qualifying households to register for its Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme before July 31, 2025. The initiative offers 50kWh of free electricity per month, exemption from the R200 surcharge, and free meter repairs for low-income families.
“Access to electricity is not a luxury, but a key feature required to support social and economic upliftment,” said City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava. “This programme is not just about addressing the high levels of meter tampering and illegal connections; it’s about restoring dignity by ensuring that there’s greater access.”
Who qualifies
To register for the FBE programme, households must:
- Earn R7,503.01 or less per month
- Be unemployed, pensioners, SASSA grant recipients, or child-headed households
- Be South African citizens or permanent residents
- Legally occupy the property
Applicants must present:
- Valid South African ID or passport
- Proof of residence
- City of Johannesburg municipal rates account
- Proof of income, such as a SASSA card or affidavit
What you’ll get
Besides the 50kWh monthly, registered households:
- Won’t pay the R200–R230 monthly surcharge
- Will have tampered or damaged meters replaced for free
- May qualify for additional City rebates on water, rates, and refuse removal
“This isn’t just about electricity, it’s about dignity,” said Mashava. “It’s about a warm meal, a child doing homework under a lightbulb.”
How and where to register
Registration is open through:
- Pop-up stations at malls, taxi ranks, churches, SASSA pay points
- Door-to-door campaigns by ward councillors
- Community Imbizos
- Visit the official City Power website for more info — read here.
City Power has already enrolled 657 households since launching the drive on June 17. The utility aims to register 130,000 indigent customers by the July deadline.
Tackling electricity theft & inequality
The programme also forms part of a broader push to combat illegal electricity connections and the massive losses they bring. Eskom loses R45 billion annually from ghost vending, non-payment, and municipal debt, according to energy analyst Chris Yelland.
In Soweto, 80% of Eskom-supplied electricity goes unpaid. City Power says this initiative will help reintroduce more than 140,000 non-vending customers to the habit of paying for services — and avoid mass disconnections.
“There is now no excuse,” Mashava warned. “If you qualify, register and receive free basic electricity. If you can afford to pay and refuse, we will begin a mass disconnection initiative where we will be removing our meters and other equipment.”
With the cold snap hitting Gauteng and the Cape as winter intensifies, electricity remains a lifeline for many.
Why it matters now
With fuel prices, food inflation, and repo rates (recently cut) still hitting households hard, this free electricity offer comes at a critical time.
City Power urges residents to take advantage before it’s too late: “We are ready to assist. Now, we need the public to act.”
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