Everyone should have access to the electricity they need to live with dignity.
Electricity is essential to everyday life. But for millions of people across South Africa, rising tariffs, unemployment and an unequal energy system are making electricity unaffordable. Even when electricity is available, many households cannot afford to buy enough units to meet their basic needs.
Electricity for All is about making electricity affordable and accessible for everyone in South Africa.
The campaign calls for action to address rising electricity costs, expand access to Free Basic Electricity and increase it to 350 kWh for households that need it.
It also supports greater public investment in clean, renewable energy to help build an electricity system that works for everyone.
With the 2026 local elections approaching, now is the time to fight for Electricity for All.
We’re demanding that government increase Free Basic Electricity from 50 kWh to 350 kWh per month for low-income households and invest in a cleaner, publicly financed renewable energy system.
Join the campaign for affordable, accessible electricity that meets people’s basic needs.
Make 350 kWh a reality and demand affordable, clean #ElectricityForAll!
We are calling on Government to:
● Increase Free Basic Electricity to 350 kWh so households have enough electricity to meet their basic needs and live with dignity.
● Improve access to Free Basic Electricity so every household that needs it receives the support they are entitled to.
● Make electricity affordable and accessible for everyone so no one has to choose between electricity and other essentials.
● Invest in publicly financed renewable energy to help make electricity more affordable over time.
● Build an energy system that delivers affordable electricity and a cleaner energy future for everyone.
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Free Basic Electricity (FBE) is a government programme that gives qualifying low-income households in South Africa a basic amount of free electricity each month. Currently, qualifying households receive 50 kWh of free electricity per month.
Free Basic Electricity recognises that electricity is an essential service. It therefore helps households that cannot afford electricity access a basic amount to meet their daily needs and live with dignity.
Free Basic Electricity is meant for indigent and low-income households. To receive FBE, households usually need to apply through their local municipality and register for indigent support. Check with your municipality to find out whether you qualify and how to apply.
An indigent household is one that cannot afford basic needs and services, such as food, water, and electricity. Municipalities use factors such as household income to determine whether a household is considered indigent.
Electricity is becoming increasingly unaffordable for millions of people in South Africa, forcing many households to choose between keeping the lights on and paying for other essentials like food, transport, healthcare and education.
At the same time, millions of households that qualify for Free Basic Electricity still don’t receive it, and the current 50 kWh allocation isn’t enough to meet a household’s basic monthly needs.
Have you ever reached the middle of the month and realised you may not have enough money for both electricity and transport to get to work?
Maybe you can make it through the month, but only by cutting back on something else, stretching your budget and making sacrifices.
No one should have to choose between electricity and other basic needs. Electricity is not a luxury; it is something we all deserve and need.
That’s why we’re fighting for Electricity for All.
The 50 kWh allocation was introduced in 2007 as a basic level of support, but household needs and the cost of living have changed dramatically since then.
Research suggests that 350 kWh per household per month is a more realistic amount to support a household’s basic daily needs, including cooking, heating water, lighting and using essential appliances.
Many qualifying households do not receive FBE automatically. Application processes, paperwork, different municipal rules, limited information, and requirements such as a formal electricity connection can all create barriers to access.
In many cases, people living in informal settlements or backyard dwellings may face additional barriers because FBE is often linked to a formal electricity meter or household connection.
As a result, millions of households that need and may qualify for Free Basic Electricity still don’t receive it.
South Africa has abundant solar and wind resources. Investing in renewable energy can bring more, potentially cheaper electricity onto the grid while reducing our reliance on expensive, polluting power sources.
To make sure these benefits reach households, investment in renewable energy must go hand in hand with investment in the grid and other infrastructure needed to deliver reliable, affordable electricity.
The goal is an energy system that provides affordable electricity today while building towards a cleaner, more affordable future.
