Free Basic Electricity in South Africa
Did you know that you can apply for free electricity in South Africa (Basic)?
How to apply for Free Electricity (FBE)?
The Free Basic Electricity Policy was put in place in 2003. It is the only tool to support households with their electricity needs by providing them with 50 kWh of free electricity every month.
The money for this support comes from National Treasury and is given to local municipalities to implement the roll out of FBE to households in need.
Every municipality puts in place their own set of rules when it comes to FBE.
There are two sets of rules: A household affordability test and a consumption limit.
For areas that are supplied with electricity by the City of Cape Town, a household must be on the lifeline tariff and meet the following consumption limits:
- Where the electricity bought by the household does not exceed 250 kWh per month, customers will receive a free basic allocation of 60 units of electricity.
- Should the household buy between 250kWh and 450kWh per month, customers will receive a free basic allocation of 25 units of electricity.
Should the electricity received exceed 450 kWh per month on average over 12 months, the free electricity portion will no longer be made available to the household.
The 12-month average is to ensure that households using less in summer but more electricity in cold months do not get thrown off the FBE system.
For areas in the Cape Town metropolitan that receive electricity directly from Eskom, the following applies:
Where the electricity received does not exceed 250kWh per month on average over 12 months, customers will receive a free basic allocation of 50kWh.
FBE is part of a basket of free basic services (water, sanitation, refuse removal) provided by government which aims to improve the lives of the most vulnerable communities.
In order to qualify for the basket of free basic services, a household must be classified as an indigent household or qualify for the pensioner’s rebate as per criteria determined by the local municipalities.
This means there is no application form for FBE alone.
Once a household qualifies for the pensioner’s rebate or indigent status they should be put on lifeline tariff
which is a subsidized tariff and then automatically qualify to get FBE, if they
- Have a prepaid meter and
- Use less than 450 kWh per month on average when they get electricity from the City of Cape Town or
- use less than 250 kwh when they receive electricity from Eskom.
Households that don’t qualify for indigent status or the pensioner’s rebate can still try to apply to be put on the Lifeline tariff and to get FBE by logging a query with the City’s call center or any City walk-in-center.
There is no application form for this.
The criteria for indigent status, pensioner’s rebate as well as lifeline tariff and FBE are listed below.
How to Qualify for Free Basic Electricity.
Households need to be on the Lifeline Electricity Tariff, be registered as indigent or qualify for
Pensioner’s Rebate on service fees.
Lifeline Electricity Tariff
- You need to apply
- use less than 450kWhs / Units of Electricity on average each month over 12 months.
- Municipal property value less than R400 000.
- Have a pre-paid meter
Registered as Indigent
- You need to apply.
- Earn a combined income of less than R 7500.
- Are the registered owner of the property and live at the house full-time.
- Use your home mainly for residential purposes
- Use less than 450kWhs / Units of Electricity on average each month over 12 months.
- Have a pre-paid meter
Qualify for Pensioner's Rebate
- You need to apply.
- are dependent on a state pension or social grant, and are 60 years or older earning R4 500 or less gross income a month, you may qualify for a 100% rates rebate and the Lifeline Electricity Tariff.
- Pensioners aged 60 years or older earning more than R4 501, but no more than R7 500 a month, may qualify for a 95% or 90% rates rebate and the lifeline electricity tariff.
- Use less than 450kWhs / Units of Electricity on average each month over 12 months.
- Have a pre-paid meter
Home Power Tariff (ESKOM)
- You need to apply
- use less than 250kWh / Units of Electricity on average each month over 12 months.
Households Free Electricity
Households can’t apply for pensioner rebate or indigent status if they are in arrears with any municipal accounts.
This needs to be sorted out first before a household can apply.
If households are in arrears they need to speak to the city about a debt payment plan. The City may write off arrears as a once–off for customers.
If households have an old account meter their electricity account will be checked to find out how much electricity they have been using.
If they use more than the allowed amount on average, they won't qualify for FBE.
City of Cape Town Customers who qualify for FBE will have a pre-paid meter installed at the City’s expense.
Do You Qualify for Free Electricity?
If the household qualifies for free electricity in South Africa and is registered, they can access the FBE token number via their cellphone by dialing *269*120# or *130*869#.
Alternatively, ask for the FBE at your local vendor. You are not obliged to buy electricity from the vendor to get your FBE.
Consumers who are unsure if they qualify for the FBE may visit their local municipal offices or make contact with their ward councillor or community representative.
