PRETORIA - Diligent electricity customers are being burdened by those who don't pay their bills, says Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
The government is now planning a sweeping overhaul of the country's electricity pricing framework, after identifying affordability as one of the energy sector's biggest challenges.
As the country moves beyond the worst of load shedding, government says it is time to make electricity more affordable.
READ: Free Basic Electricity could increase: Here's what govt is proposing
The electricity pricing framework has not undergone a major overhaul since 2008, and the new policy aims to modernise how electricity is priced.
A major focus will be tackling municipal debt. Ramokgopa says customers who pay their bills should not be subsidising those who don't.
"A result of non-payment is that municipal debt balloons," he says.
Eskom's debt also increases when municipalities fail to pay the utility.
Ramokgopa says household needs have changed, and government may increase the monthly free basic electricity allowance to between 200 and 300 kilowatt-hours.
Eligibility would depend on total household income.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) will also be required to publish a 10-year electricity price outlook for businesses and consumers.
The revised policy will be gazetted for public comment on Friday, giving South Africans 30 days to submit their views.