Free electricity allocation could rise to 300kWh under proposed policy

South African Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the government is considering raising the monthly Free Basic Electricity allocation from 50kWh to between 200kWh and 300kWh per qualifying household. The proposal is part of a review of the programme, but has not been adopted and is not yet an entitlement. The number of beneficiaries will depend on the final identification and registration of eligible households and on funding and implementation arrangements. Of about 2.8 million identified indigent households, only 1.7 million have benefited from free basic electricity.