South Africa’s electricity policy and legislation have evolved considerably over the last 20 years to support the transition to a decentralised, low-carbon energy system. This transition impacts municipal utilities, enhancing their autonomy and integration with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and prosumers. However, limited scholarly attention exists regarding local-level governance frameworks for this transition. Using the Transition Management framework, this study analyses electricity governance in the City of Johannesburg across strategic, tactical, operational, and reflexive levels. Key findings include that at the strategic level, national and municipal visions emphasise renewable energy development and market decentralisation, with Johannesburg aiming to source 35% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. At the tactical level, regulatory reforms are needed to integrate small-scale embedded generation into the distribution network. Operationally, City Power has started to give effect to the just transition vision and its renewable energy targets through various initiatives, including renewable energy investments and power purchase agreements. At the reflexive level, gaps in local monitoring of embedded renewable capacity and generation highlight the need for improved registration of renewable energy systems. These insights contribute to sustainable urban development discussions and inform other cities undergoing similar energy transitions.