The Nationwide Vitality Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has referred to as for public touch upon revised draft guidelines for electrical energy buying and selling as a part of a second spherical of consultations after Eskom raised objections to an preliminary draft revealed in November 2025.
In a press release, Nersa stated the up to date draft guidelines had been considerably expanded and revised to include stakeholder feedback that had been made throughout the preliminary session course of.
“The revised guidelines set up a complete regulatory structure designed to allow the phased implementation and operationalisation of bilateral electrical energy buying and selling preparations, thereby supporting the transition in direction of a totally aggressive electrical energy retail market in South Africa,” the regulator stated.
A deadline of July 27 has been set for the submission of written feedback, with the date for public hearings to be introduced after that cut-off date.
Nersa signifies that the goal is for the principles to be Gazetted in August.
The proposed guidelines, which Nersa labels Model 03, are more likely to be notably intently scrutinised by licensed electrical energy merchants and Eskom, however have implications for all contributors within the electrical energy provide trade.
They observe on from Eskom’s objections to the preliminary draft guidelines and the utility’s court docket problem launched towards Nersa’s licensing of 5 extra merchants in 2024; a case that has been stayed however not but withdrawn.
Describing the principles as a important regulatory instrument for governing retail electrical energy buying and selling actions throughout the transition to a aggressive market, Nersa stated they aimed to make sure aggressive neutrality, forestall uneconomic bypass of community and policy-related prices, and defend client pursuits.
“The phased implementation of retail competitors, as outlined within the buying and selling guidelines, introduces contestability for customers and establishes mechanisms corresponding to non-bypassable expenses, quantity restrictions, and wheeling preparations.
“These measures are supposed to steadiness the event of a aggressive market with the monetary sustainability of the electrical energy provide trade,” Nersa stated.
