The Bring-Forth Government of South Africa had been deliberating on further aid to the lower-income community through the extension of this free electricity program into 2025. Beneficence in these terms would allow every needy household to receive a small quantity of electricity free per month just to offer some relief to families from the increasing costs of living. Below is a stepwise guide to understand the Program and submit the application through the online mode.
What Is Free Electricity Program?
The Free Electricity Program is commonly known and branded as Free Basic Electricity (FBE) delivery of 50-100 kWh monthly free of any charge to impoverished families, wholly or partly, by way of social assistance. The actual allocation depends on municipal specifications and the number of persons in the household. The intervention is supposed to cover very basic household energy requirements mainly used for lighting, cooking, and heating, so that those very vulnerable families would not find it burdensome.
Who Gets Free Electricity in 2025
In principle, every application to partake in this scheme shall adhere to the requirements set by the particular municipality and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Typical criteria include the following:
- The household is said to be indigent or of a low-income nature.
- Only households deemed low electricity consumers can qualify.
- Relaxed households or commercial premises are excluded.
- Applicants must be South African citizens holding a South African identity document.
- The property requires connecting to the grid, be it via Eskom or municipal supply.
This may sometimes differ from one municipality to another and applicants should clarify such matters with their relevant authority.
Some Documents Needed to Make an Application
Before getting ahead and applying online for this process, it is useful to have the following documents ready:
- Accepted South African ID or smart card.
- Proof of residence (municipal bill, lease agreements).
- Proof of income or affidavit of unemployment.
- Municipal indigent support form (if applicable).
Having those documents on hand will ensure fast facilitation of the process online.
How Beneficiaries Receive Free Electricity
Once approved, households will automatically receive their free monthly electricity units. This is usually loaded directly onto a prepaid meter or reflected in reduced municipal bills for postpaid users.
also read: SASSA Double Payments September 2025 – Check If You Are Getting Extra This Month