Wealthy consumers and companies may face an electricity price increase of more than 34 percent this year, Eskom spokesperson Fanie Zulu conceded on Wednesday.

Zulu said he "can't guarantee" that higher income groups would not be asked to pay more than the 34 percent hike Eskom was demanding to cover its operational costs, in the likely event that the increase was staggered to grant the poor relief.

"So the rich may pay more," he told Sapa after briefing Parliament's public enterprises portfolio committee.

"It happened last year when Nersa (National Energy Regulator of SA) said 14.5 percent and then the affluent paid more," Zulu added, referring to the cap the national regulator put on price hikes for low income consumers after granting a general tariff hike of 27 percent.

Zulu said industry might also have to pay more.

He added however that the decision was not up to Eskom but to Nersa, which was considering the tariff increase application.