South Africa’s municipalities are entering a new era in energy management. Amid chronic load-shedding, rising tariffs, and a fragile national grid, one homegrown company is positioning itself as a game‑changer.
Utility Trading and Consulting Services (UTCS), led by CEO Christo Nicholls, is pioneering digital electricity trading platforms designed to deliver what he calls “affordable electricity for all.”
From Load-Shedding Woes to Local Solutions
South Africa has endured years of rolling blackouts and tariff hikes, leaving households and businesses scrambling for alternatives.
With Eskom struggling to meet demand, municipalities face the dual challenge of securing reliable power while staying compliant with an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
UTCS believes it has found the answer. Through its MyMunic digital platform, the company enables municipalities to move from being passive electricity distributors to active participants in the energy market.
“We have cracked the code on how to make the JUST energy transition JUST for all,” says Nicholls, a veteran energy strategist.
“Our model aligns technology, law, and institutional practice so municipalities can take real ownership of their energy futures.”
How the Platform Works
UTCS’s MyMunic platform is more than software, it is a compliance‑driven trading ecosystem.
Using 30‑minute interval data from advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), the platform validates and automates trades, ensures alignment with the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act (ERAA), and monitors municipal adherence to NERSA regulations and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
So far, the company has enabled the procurement of more than 228 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity within its first 500 days of operation.
Remarkably, UTCS reached financial breakeven in less than a year, and its model allows municipalities to diversify supply without additional debt, since it is funded through a share of new gross profits created from the trades.
“Our approach is simple,” explains Ettiene Thomas, UTCS’s Chief Commercial Officer.
“We don’t just deliver a system, we build institutional muscle inside municipalities. Legal teams, finance departments, and technical units can all operate confidently under one framework.”
Expert Reactions
Energy transition experts say the UTCS model could reshape municipal electricity procurement across the region.
“Platforms like MyMunic show how municipalities can leapfrog into the future of energy trading,” notes Dr. Amina Bekele, an independent consultant on African energy systems.
“They provide transparency, accountability, and access to renewables in a market that has long been monopolized.”
Bekele adds that UTCS’s approach could serve as a template beyond South Africa.
“If replicated, this model could empower smaller cities across Africa to stabilise power supply, integrate solar and wind, and reduce dependence on unstable grids.”
Addressing Tariffs and Consumer Pain
The urgency for UTCS’s solutions is underscored by recent tariff adjustments.
On July 1, 2025, South Africa’s new Municflex framework took effect, pushing municipal electricity tariffs up by an average of 11.32%. For many households and small businesses, the increase has been devastating.
Sune Robertson, UTCS’s Head of Operations, says the company designed MyMunic to help municipalities cushion residents against such shocks.
“Our system allows local governments to procure cheaper, renewable‑based electricity and pass those savings down to consumers. It’s about turning affordability from a dream into reality.”
Regional Ambitions
UTCS is already expanding beyond South Africa. Pilot projects in Namibia are underway, and the company plans to enter other SADC countries in late 2025 and early 2026.
Nicholls says the demand is clear:
“Municipalities across the region are facing the same pain points, rising costs, regulatory reforms, and unreliable supply. We’re ready to be their affordable electricity partner.”
Thought Leadership and Advocacy
Beyond technology, UTCS positions itself as a thought leader in the just energy transition.
Nicholls recently authored Sustainable Electricity Trading: Making Future‑Proof Affordable Electricity in South African Municipalities a Reality, a book that maps the technical, legal, and commercial aspects of municipal energy reform.
He insists that reform cannot happen without transparency:
“If municipalities can’t bill accurately, if they can’t prove compliance, and if they can’t integrate renewables seamlessly, then they will never achieve energy justice. That is why UTCS exists.”
Looking Ahead
As South Africa accelerates its Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET‑IP), companies like UTCS are set to play a pivotal role.
Their model, integrating advanced data systems, legislative compliance, and institutional empowerment, may well determine whether municipalities succeed in delivering affordable, sustainable electricity.
“Ultimately, we’re not just providing a platform,” says Nicholls. “We are building a repeatable framework for the future of energy, one municipality, one region at a time.”
If UTCS delivers on its promise, it could transform South Africa’s fractured electricity market into a model of locally driven resilience, offering a blueprint for energy equity across the developing world.
