Electricity usage help.

[AresFaithfull]

Morning guys, I had a look at our electricity bill this morning and wanted to see other peoples daily average consumption compared to mine.

We are a 6 person household and our daily average according to City Power is 49.846kWh. I'd like to understand if this is higher than it should be or in line with some of you who have similar size households.

Over the years we have definitely taken steps to put in cost saving measures like im sure everyone else has so don't feel we are using electricity excessively.

 

[HolyCowImAnoOb]

How many geysers does your household have?

Our electricity bill is about R900 a month, but we have a single solar geyser and i work from home.
This is between 4 people. 2 adults and 2 kids
+- 15 units a day

I suspect with load shedding kicking your power on and off all the time causes your geysers to have to boil a bit more often.

What im trying to say is, because we have a solar geyser our elecricity bill is half of what i suspect it would usually be.

 

[AresFaithfull]

How many geysers does your household have?

Our electricity bill is about R900 a month, but we have a single solar geyser and i work from home.
This is between 4 people. 2 adults and 2 kids

We have 2 Geysers both non solar.

 

[Deviation]

Morning
I think this is a bit on the higher side.
But factors contributing to this can be myriad:
Geyser: is it solar, gas, or electric? Do you have a timer on?
Stove: gas or electric?
Number of appliances etc.,

 

[AresFaithfull]

Morning
I think this is a bit on the higher side.
But factors contributing to this can be myriad:
Geyser: is it solar, gas, or electric? Do you have a timer on?
Stove: gas or electric?
Number of appliances etc.,

2x Electric Geysers no timers
1xGas stove 1x Electric Stove
My PC, 2x TV's, 3x Fridge(one big, one small, one bar), 1x Deep Freeze, 1x Pool Pump, then multiple appliances that'll have a lower power/power off standby mode.

 

[ovisser1]

Quite far from your scenario as we are only 2 people.

But we average about 8units a day @R2.40 each. = R600pm+-
Electric geyser on a timer for 6 hours a day (3-6AM & PM), All LED lights, gas stove, only run lights when needed.
No heaters, no aircons, only heavy load is the kettle when the GF makes coffee - Which will soon be replaced with a gas kettle.

Based on your last post, I think your monthly units are on par with the appliances you have.

 

[Deviation]

2x Electric Geysers no timers
1xGas stove 1x Electric Stove
My PC, 2x TV's, 3x Fridge(one big, one small, one bar), 1x Deep Freeze, 1x Pool Pump, then multiple appliances that'll have a lower power/power off standby mode.

In that case, 50kWh is quite a bit if you want to start cutting your electric consumption.
Those two geysers without timers are the main culprit. Depending on their size, you could probably save quite a bit depending on how aggressive you are with the timer.

I experimented with my geyser before, and 4 hr on timer vs running all day the difference was around 5-10kWh depending on the usage.

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

But we average about 8units a day @R2.40 each. = R600pm+-
Electric geyser on a timer for 6 hours a day (3-6AM & PM), All LED lights, gas stove, only run lights when needed.

What element? 6 hours a day, 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening, from the sounds of it heating up the water, let's say 2 hours each time till it reaches temp, that's 4 hours of heating water a day. If a 3kw element that's already 12 units to heat for those 4 hours. Even if it's just heating for 2 hours in total a day on a 3kw element that's 6 units. Your daily usage seems low considering the rest of the stuff that trickles through and adds up during a 24 hour period. I want to know your tricks 😀

 

[ovisser1]

What element? 6 hours a day, 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening, from the sounds of it heating up the water, let's say 2 hours each time till it reaches temp, that's 4 hours of heating water a day. If a 3kw element that's already 12 units to heat for those 4 hours. Even if it's just heating for 2 hours in total a day on a 3kw element that's 6 units. Your daily usage seems low considering the rest of the stuff that trickles through and adds up during a 24 hour period. I want to know your tricks 😀

well yes, but no - I moved into a new place end of Jan, and my usage is very close to what I used at the previous place - up R100+- but the new place is bigger, so it makes sense.

I haven't looked at the exact specs on the geyser, but its not a conventional geyser, it's a heat pump unit. Takes about 30-45mins on average till the water is up to max temp (55c I think).
So lets say about 1.5hours of heating water each day, then maintaining when it reaches a difference of 10c from max.
The geyser has a keypad where I can adjust the settings

haven't tested in colder weather yet - but I think it would change quite a bit (condenser unit is outside on a wall)

The only thing that runs the entire day is the fridge. I even turn off the UPS' when not using whatever is connected to them because I fear eskom.
The only items drawing power right now at home would be the fridge, and the garage door batteries charging because the power was off when I left this morning and some small appliances like the fiber ONT and access point, a single google nest hub and the microwave (not in use, just on)

Everything else is off (not standby, off)

Being on prepaid helps because I simply check the balance daily.

 

[PilgrimToHyperion]

@OP, do you game a lot? Your GPU is rated 290W max, it could be a contributor. I added one of these to our geyser and control it via Home Assistant. It has helped a fair bit to bring usage down. Air-conditioners could also be a culprit if you have many and use them often.

We average around 30kWh a day, 2 adults, 2 kids. On a good day, about half of that comes from solar.

 

[AresFaithfull]

@OP, do you game a lot? Your GPU is rated 290W max, it could be a contributor. I added one of these to our geyser and control it via Home Assistant. It has helped a fair bit to bring usage down. Air-conditioners could also be a culprit if you have many and use them often.

We average around 30kWh a day, 2 adults, 2 kids. On a good day, about half of that comes from solar.

3hours an evening for gaming.

No aircons

 

[Byakugan]

I avg about R650 a month. We are 2 ppl. I work from home. I have an aircon I use often, I game alot, 65 inch tv. Meraki AP's etc. Fridge, chest freezer, inverter system. Few other stuff.

 

[A3@CPc]

Something does not add up.
The electrical devices listed cannot draw such power without a problem present.

What is your monthly water consumption like?

• Leaking geyser that constantly heats
• Leaking hot water taps?

Any boreholes that supply water for the house or garden
Check all seals on fridges and freezers, a door that does not seal will require the compressor to constantly run.

Do any member of family bake or dry rusks in the oven on a daily basis?
Old school security lights that trigger on motion? That is 2x 200w if I recall.

 

[Sageofchaos]

I'm also around R600-R700 a month, 2 people, prepaid meter.

±R2.30 per unit // 300 units purchased this month, VAT and Service fee included.
±10 Units a day, 10kWh?
No Aircon
1x Electric Geyser on a Timer Switch
1x Air Fryer
1x Electric Oven/Stove (Hardly use the oven)
2x Gaming PC's on for ±4hrs a day.
1x Washing Machine (Front loader)
1x Dishwasher

 

[Off-The-Chart]

we are 7 and I think we do around the 60 mark last time I checked

will double check

our problem is 1 household checks their usage, while another just goes willy-nilly

then there is also a cleaning lady whom probably goes ham on the hot water during the day

then also her love for just using the washing machine to wash 3 towels

 

[Rickster]

4 People in our house, we avg 1100 KW/h monthly.

 

[Th3C0t0nB4ll]

3 People in my home, with 1 permanently at home, and running a small nail salon from the home, we do about 750KW/h in a month.

 

[moedeez]

2 adults , 2 hobbits. Both adults + 1 hobbit home full time.
fridge, chest freezer, dishwasher and washing machine.
Gas stove, air fryer and instant pot mostly used for cooking.
I don't know the geyser kw, but we only turn it on for bath time.
2 laptops on wfh with 24# monitors (8ish hours)
1 laptop for home school (4-5 ish hours)

we average between 9-11kh on weekdays
6-9kw on weekends.

 

[ATB]

8 people, 800kwh for most months, last month was 600kwh for some weird reason.

 

[Sageofchaos]

±R2.30 per unit // 300 units purchased this month, VAT and Service fee included.

HOOOO-LEEEE-SCHITT....

I spent R700 bucks this morning and only got 89.5kWh....

THATS R7.82 per kWh! Literally 3.5x more than when I posted this on 13 March 2023....

 

[el3venth]

HOOOO-LEEEE-SCHITT....

I spent R700 bucks this morning and only got 89.5kWh....

THATS R7.82 per kWh! Literally 3.5x more than when I posted this on 13 March 2023....

Are you sure they did not first subtrack your connection fee and only then calculated your kWh?

 

[Sephiroth]

HOOOO-LEEEE-SCHITT....

I spent R700 bucks this morning and only got 89.5kWh....

THATS R7.82 per kWh! Literally 3.5x more than when I posted this on 13 March 2023....

Try an buy enough at the start of every month. If you buy multiple times a month, you will be put into a "High Usage" price point and then you pay more...

Its ridiculous I know, but the ANC thinks thats fair

I am in CPT and I get 316 units for 1k.
We try and use 10 units a day. Geyser only on for 1hr a day.

 

[Gee1984]

HOOOO-LEEEE-SCHITT....

I spent R700 bucks this morning and only got 89.5kWh....

THATS R7.82 per kWh! Literally 3.5x more than when I posted this on 13 March 2023....

I was wondering, while reading this, what I was doing wrong, until I saw the date... Yeah I still can't really make sense of the prepaid rates.

 

[ovisser1]

I just bought R1000 and received 274.7kwh via the FNB app
First purchase this month, first purchase in the last 6months actually

 

[valiente]

Try an buy enough at the start of every month. If you buy multiple times a month, you will be put into a "High Usage" price point and then you pay more...

Its ridiculous I know, but the ANC thinks thats fair

Not entirely true, you can buy anytime you want but the brackets are decided by the amount that you buy. These brackets reset at the beginning of every month.

For instance, I am basically off grid, so I purchase 100 units every month and stock up on Units, so that when there are a couple of weeks with rain, I am using cheaper units purchased over the last 12 months.

Each municipality has their own brackets, but Tshwane is as follows:

These brackets exclude VAT, so I purchase R343 worth for 100 units.

If you use anything more than 101 units in a month, it is then best to purchase up to 400 units for that month and technically build up units for your heavier usage months which would take you to over 401 units.

But since you have purchased those units during previous months at the 2nd bracket, you are actually saving then.

Obviously each ones usage will make these calculations different, but use the brackets to calculate how much to buy and dont just buy R1000 or R2000 because its a round number.

Also if you running out of units on the 27th, only buy enough units to get you to the 1st and then buy with the cheaper brackets.

 

[TheJudge]

Not entirely true, you can buy anytime you want but the brackets are decided by the amount that you buy. These brackets reset at the beginning of every month.

For instance, I am basically off grid, so I purchase 100 units every month and stock up on Units, so that when there are a couple of weeks with rain, I am using cheaper units purchased over the last 12 months.

Each municipality has their own brackets, but Tshwane is as follows:

These brackets exclude VAT, so I purchase R343 worth for 100 units.

If you use anything more than 101 units in a month, it is then best to purchase up to 400 units for that month and technically build up units for your heavier usage months which would take you to over 401 units.

But since you have purchased those units during previous months at the 2nd bracket, you are actually saving then.

Obviously each ones usage will make these calculations different, but use the brackets to calculate how much to buy and dont just buy R1000 or R2000 because its a round number.

Also if you running out of units on the 27th, only buy enough units to get you to the 1st and then buy with the cheaper brackets.

Unless it's changed Cape Town has a punitive tariff threshold, if you land in that you are charged per day even if you use nothing. So when you go to buy you have to clear that before you get a unit. We moved into a house on that and couldn't buy until we paid off the fee and got the municipality to clear it because we were new tenants.

On the unit front, had issues recently and couldn't load units. We used 18 units over three days (6 per day) by not using stove, washing and drying machines and ditched the geyser. Adding those back we were straight back up to like 40 units plus a day depending on what we were doing.

 

[Toxxyc]

5 People, fairly large property (48,800 sqm), 4-bed house, 3 ACs, pressure pump, borehole pump, regular electric geyser, and I WFH (PC on all day, lights on, coffee machine and kettle running a few times per day, etc.

We use exactly 0kWh from Eskom. Off-grid is epic. I generated 7,800kWh since 3 January 2025. By this cost, the system will have paid for itself in around 2 years.

 

[Taladas]

5 People, fairly large property (48,800 sqm), 4-bed house, 3 ACs, pressure pump, borehole pump, regular electric geyser, and I WFH (PC on all day, lights on, coffee machine and kettle running a few times per day, etc.

We use exactly 0kWh from Eskom. Off-grid is epic. I generated 7,800kWh since 3 January 2025. By this cost, the system will have paid for itself in around 2 years.

Are you still connected to Eskom at all?

 

[Toxxyc]

Are you still connected to Eskom at all?

Nope. When I bought the place I was threatened that they're going to "come pull the links" if I don't register the transformer. So I replied "when do you want to come, I'll open the gate".

A week later the Eskom guy arrived and pulled the links between the transformer and the house. Now I'm waiting for them to come take down the transformer so I can cut down the poles, or make a slide for the kids, or something with them.

Eskom can go to hell. Equivalent electricity usage on here would have cost over R7,000 per month by now. Around R3,500 for transformer hire, and the rest for electricity usage. I'm not sure if I'll ever buy another property, but if I do, R200k is immediately going to be included for taking it off the Eskom grid. It is worth every single cent.

 

[Frana.mtb]

looking at pricing now , its insane how much cheaper equipment has gotten in the last 2 years

my system now costs - 25% what i paid a little over a year ago