The African National Congress (ANC) welcomed the decision by National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to increase electricity tariffs on Thursday saying that the hike was fair on light electricity users.

"The increase effectively means that light users will get a 15% increase while industry and heavy users will pay 31% extra," the party said in statement.

It said although the decision added to the burden of households, Nersa had been cautious in making the decision.

The tariff increase will result in a rise in the average standard tariff from 25,24c/kWh to 33,14c/kWh, Nersa chairperson Collin Matjila said in Pretoria.

The figure fell just short of Eskom's requested 34% hike. The increase will come into effect on July 1.

Nersa said the adjustment would result in estimated tariff revenues of R62,031-billion from distribution standard tariff sales of 198,857 gigawatt hours (GWh).

The estimated total revenues, including special pricing agreements, would be R64.704 billion for total sales of 222,640 GWh, including international sales.

Nersa said the 31,3% increase included the 2c/kWh levy on the sale of electricity generated from non-renewable sources (environmental levy).

It added that the 2c/kWh had to be recovered within the 31,3% tariff increase.