The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved a National Free Basic Electricity (NFBE) rate of 194.40c/kWh for the 2024/25 municipal financial year.

This is the rate of those qualifying for free basic electricity, starting from 1 July 2024.

The NFBE rate is the rate at which municipalities compensate Eskom for providing free basic electricity (FBE) units to qualifying customers.

FBE is the amount of electricity deemed sufficient to provide basic electricity services to qualifying households. This amount of energy should be sufficient to provide basic lighting, basic media access, basic water heating using a kettle and basic ironing in terms of grid electricity, as well as basic lighting for domestic electricity users and non-grid systems supplied by the local municipality or utility provider.