Consumer services
Consumer help: electricity
Eskom
Registering on Eksom's website will allow you to query your account, view your consumption, submit your meter readings or log a fault. The customer centre accepts phone calls, SMS, email and website queries. See the website for contact details.- Website: www.eskom.co.za
- Sharecall number: 08600 ESKOM (08600 37566)
National Electricity Regulator
With any electricity-related complaint, your first port of call should be to the supplier, which is either Eskom or your municipality (see below). If you receive no satisfaction or are unhappy with how your complaint was dealt with, you can approach the regulator. Nersa, a statutory body, is legally mandated to resolve disputes between suppliers and customers and between suppliers themselves. It handles complaints regarding the quality of supply or service, billing, metering and tariffs.- Website: www.nersa.org.za
Suppliers
In South Africa, most electricity is supplied by either Eskom or via distributors (usually municipalities). Check your electricity account to see who your supplier is. If it is not Eskom, you need to contact the distributor directly if you have a problem with your account or electricity supply.- Buffalo City Municipality (East London, King William's Town, Bisho): www.buffalocity.gov.za
- City of Cape Town: www.capetown.gov.za
- City of Johannesburg: www.joburg.org.za
- City Power Johannesburg: www.citypower.co.za
- eThekwini Municipality: www.durban.gov.za
- Ekhuruleni Metropolitan Municipality (Alberton, Eastern Gauteng and Springs): www.ekurhuleni.com
- Manguang Local Municipality (Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Southern Free State): www.bloemfontein.co.za
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Port Elizabeth, New Brighton, Motherwell): www.mandelametro.gov.za
- Polokwane Municipality: www.polokwane.org.za
- Msunduzi Municipality (Pietersmaritzburg): www.msunduzi.gov.za
- Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality: www.tshwane.gov.za
Electrical Contracting Board
Electrical contractors are legally obliged to register annually with the board, an agency of the Department of Labour. You can search the website for contractors.- Website: www.ecbsa.co.za
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Consumer help A – Z
South Africans – getting shoddy service? Bought a faulty product? Want to complain about a company, government department, dentist, bank, estate agent? Unsure of your rights as a consumer? Help is at hand:
- Consumer organisations
- Advertising and the media
- Banking, loans, credit, debt
- Building, housing, contractors
- Competition
- Direct marketing, junk mail
- Electricity
- Estate agents, property transactions
- Insurance and pensions
- Lawyers, legal aid
- Medical aid and health
- Motor vehicles
- Other – see below
- Post, parcels, mail
- Tax
- Telephones and mobile
- Travel and tourism
Other products and services
Got a problem with a product or service not listed above? Auctions, electrical appliances, franchises, furniture, timeshare? And more – see: Other products and services 