Income

The total income for the electricity, gas and water supply industry in 2021 was R330,5 billion. The total income represents an increase of 6,4% per annum over the income reported in the corresponding survey of 2019 (R292,0 billion). Comparing 2019 and 2021, large increases were reported for ‘generation, transmission and distribution of electricity’ (+R31,7 billion) and ‘collection, purification and distribution of water’ (+R4,5 billion).

Between 2013 and 2021, ‘collection, purification and distribution of water’ gained the biggest percentage share (1,5 percentage points) in total income (from a percentage contribution of 12,1% in 2013 to 13,6% in 2021). ‘Generation, transmission and distribution of electricity’ lost the biggest percentage share (‑1,2 percentage points) over the same period (from 82,9% in 2013 to 81,7% in 2021).

Electricity generated

The total electricity generated in 2021 was 215 377 gigawatt hours (GWh). This represents a decrease of 3,8% per annum over the electricity generated in the corresponding survey of 2019 (232 692 GWh). The main contributor to total electricity generated was ‘coal’ (86,1% or 185 459 GWh), followed by ‘renewable energy sources’ (6,1% or 13 106 GWh) and ‘nuclear material’ (4,6% or 9 929 GWh).

Between 2013 and 2021, ‘coal’ lost the biggest percentage share (-6,2 percentage points) in electricity generated (from a percentage contribution of 92,3% in 2013 to 86,1% in 2021). ‘Renewable energy sources’ gained the biggest percentage share (+5,6 percentage points) in electricity generated (from a percentage contribution of 0,5% in 2013 to 6,1% in 2021).