Overview

South Africa has made substantial progress in expanding household access to electricity since 1994. More than 8.4 million new household electricity connections had been delivered by 2024, increasing access from just over 36% in 1994 to more than 94% by 2024. The Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP), administered by the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE), remains a key government mechanism for funding household grid connections, non-grid solutions and the bulk infrastructure required to extend electricity access.

Approximately 1.6 million households remain without a formal electricity connection. Current government planning seeks to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable and quality energy by 2030 through a coordinated blend of grid and non-grid solutions, with particular attention to informal settlements, peri-urban areas, deep-rural communities and newly established housing developments.