Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality has introduced a new electricity tariff structure for qualifying social housing developments.
Approved through the municipality’s tariff application process with NERSA, the tariff introduces a simplified structure for qualifying social housing customers by removing the fixed monthly basic charge and applying a flat-rate usage-based tariff.
Concerns were raised by social housing tenants, landlords, and advocacy groups including the National Association of Social Housing Organisations (NASHO) over the impact of fixed electricity charges on affordability within the sector.
The municipality emphasises that the tariff applies specifically to qualifying social housing developments and should not be interpreted as a general residential tariff adjustment.