How to save electricity at home in South Africa (ranked)

Saving electricity at home starts with knowing where your bill actually goes.

Most South African households are watching costs climb every month. The usual advice out there is vague.

Here is what actually works. Practical changes to how you heat water, cool your home, and run your appliances, ranked by the difference they make.

Let’s begin.

 

How to save electricity at home

The fastest ways to save electricity at home include switching off unused lights, unplugging standby devices, and running full loads only. Geyser use and heating or cooling typically account for the biggest share of a household’s bill. Small changes to both make the largest difference.

Some of these cost nothing and take a minute to change. Others are small purchases that pay for themselves within months.

Here is the full list, starting with the changes that make the biggest difference.

1. Save on your geyser
2. Save on your heating and cooling
3. Use energy-saving features
4. Switch off unused lights
5. Unplug standby devices
6. Use lids and batch-cook
7. Set fridge and freezer temperatures
8. Run full loads only
9. Schedule your pool pump
10. Air-dry your laundry
11. Batch your ironing

 

1. Save on your geyser

Geysers are the single biggest electricity user in most South African homes. Setting it to 60°C, switching it off during peak hours, and insulating the tank all help. See the dedicated section below for the full breakdown, including solar and heat pump upgrades.

2. Save on your heating and cooling

Heating and cooling make up close to a fifth of household electricity use, second only to the geyser. Keeping rooms between 18°C and 20°C in winter and 23°C to 25°C in summer makes the biggest difference. See the dedicated section below for eco settings, curtains, and weatherstripping.

 

 

3. Use energy-saving features

Energy-saving features are the appliances and systems installed once that keep paying off for years, unlike habits that need repeating every day. LED lighting, efficient appliances, smart plugs, and solar power all fall into this category. See the dedicated section below for the full breakdown, including a cost-calculation tool.

4. Switch off unused lights

Lighting makes up close to a fifth of the average household’s electricity bill. Switch off when you leave a room. Use natural light during the day, and light only the space you’re using, not the whole room.

5. Unplug standby devices

TVs, chargers, consoles, and sound systems draw power even when switched off at the device. Standby electronics make up around 15% of household electricity use. Unplugging what you’re not using is one of the simplest wins available.

6. Use lids and batch-cook

Cooking makes up around 11% of the average household’s bill. A few small changes help:

• Use lids on pots to cut cooking time.
• Reach for the microwave over the oven for small meals.
• Try a budget meal plan for easier batch-cooking.

 

7. Set fridge and freezer temperatures

A fridge alone can use anywhere from 200 to 500 kWh a year, depending on its size and age. A few settings make a real difference:

• Set the fridge to 3°C and the freezer to -18°C, Eskom’s recommended settings.
• Every degree colder than necessary adds 5 to 10% to electricity use.
• Defrost the freezer regularly. As little as 2mm of ice buildup adds around 10% to its electricity use.

 

8. Run full loads only

Wait until the washing machine or dishwasher is full before running it. Use cold or short cycles where possible. A half-empty load uses the same electricity as a full one, for less laundry or fewer dishes.

9. Schedule your pool pump

A typical pump costs around R537 a month to run for six hours a day. A few adjustments cut that down:

• Run it for six to eight hours a day in summer, less in winter.
• Eskom recommends avoiding the 5pm to 9pm peak period.
• Cutting an hour or two off the daily run time adds up fast.

 

10. Air-dry your laundry

Tumble dryers are one of the most power-hungry appliances in an average home. Hang washing outside or on an indoor rack instead. Even doing so some of the time makes a big difference.

11. Batch your ironing

Heating an iron up and down repeatedly wastes electricity. Set aside one ironing session instead of doing a few items here and there through the week.

Pretty handy, right? Geyser use, heating or cooling, and the right energy-saving features all deserve more space than a single list item allows. All three get their own section next.

 

How to save electricity on your geyser

Geysers are the single biggest electricity user in most South African homes, responsible for around a quarter of the average household’s bill. A few changes make the biggest difference:

• Lower the temperature: Eskom’s hot water management guidance recommends 60°C, down from the higher factory default. Every 10-degree reduction saves 3 to 5%, and 60°C still kills bacteria like Legionella.
• Switch it off at peak times: Turning the geyser off from 6am to 9am helps, whether by hand or with a timer switch. Basic timers cost from around R150.
• Insulate it: A geyser blanket and insulated pipes are cheap, one-off purchases that cut heat loss, especially in colder parts of the country.
• Use less hot water: A shower uses up to 80% less water and five times less electricity than a bath, according to the City of Cape Town. A low-flow showerhead pushes the saving further.

 

For a bigger investment, solar water heating cuts costs by up to half from around R25,000 installed. Heat pumps cut costs by 70 to 80%, running from R22,000 to R48,000. Either is the single biggest upgrade available on this part of the bill.

 

 

How to save electricity on heating and cooling

Heating and cooling appliances account for close to a fifth of household electricity use in South Africa, second only to the geyser. Air conditioners, space heaters, and draughty windows are usually the culprits. A few changes make the biggest difference:

• Set the right temperature: Keep rooms between 18°C and 20°C in winter, and 23°C to 25°C in summer, the sweet spot for South African conditions. Every degree beyond that adds 5 to 10% to electricity use.
• Use eco mode: An aircon’s economy or eco setting runs the compressor slower for similar comfort with less power.
• Layer up instead of heating: In winter, extra layers work better than raising the heat.
• Use your curtains: Closing them at night keeps warmth in during winter, and closing them during the hottest part of the day keeps heat out in summer.
• Weatherstrip gaps: Sealing gaps around doors and windows is a small, worthwhile fix that pays for itself quickly.

 

How to use energy-saving features

Energy-saving features are the appliances, fittings, and systems installed once that keep paying off for years. They differ from habits, which need repeating every day. LED lighting, smart plugs, efficient appliances, and solar power all fall into this category.

Some of these upgrades cost very little. Others are a bigger investment that pays for itself over time. Several also come with a second benefit: backup power if the grid ever goes down.

• LED lighting: Swap any remaining incandescent or CFL bulbs for LED. They use up to 80% less electricity for the same brightness and last many times longer.
• Efficient appliances: When it’s time to replace a fridge, washing machine, or TV, check the energy rating first. A more efficient model costs more upfront but uses less power over its lifetime.
• Smart plugs and timers: These schedule appliances to switch off automatically. The saving doesn’t depend on remembering to do it yourself.
• A gas stove: Cooking with gas instead of electricity removes one of the more consistent draws on your bill. It also keeps working if the power goes out.
• Solar power, with or without a battery: Solar panels cut how much grid electricity you use during daylight hours. Adding a battery keeps that saving going after dark, and gives you backup power if there’s ever an outage.

 

Want to know what a specific appliance is actually costing you? Eskom’s residential calculator can do the maths for you. Otherwise, start with its power rating in kilowatts, multiplied by the hours you use it a day.

Multiply that by the days in a month, then by your electricity price per kWh. That gives you a rand figure for that one appliance, every month, no guesswork required.

⭐ Related content: The best ways to save money in South Africa

 

How to save electricity in South Africa

Saving electricity in South Africa often comes down to how and when it’s bought, not just how much is used. A few tactics make a real difference:

• Buy early in the month: Prepaid tariffs reset on the 1st, so topping up early keeps a purchase in the cheapest block. A big top-up late in the month, after usage has built up, risks landing in a pricier one.
• Check for free basic electricity: Low-income households registered as indigent with their municipality can claim 50 kWh a month at no cost.
• Check your rate if renting: NERSA rules bar landlords and resellers from charging more than the municipal or Eskom rate, or adding extra fees for meter reading or billing.
• Consider a time-of-use tariff: Eskom’s Homeflex tariff rewards running the geyser, pool pump, or washing machine outside peak hours, roughly 10pm to 6am. It only applies to Eskom direct customers who opt in, not municipal customers on a flat rate.

 

Most households pay municipal tariffs on prepaid meters, not Eskom’s direct rate. Rates vary by area. Prepaid meters also show usage in real time, making it easier to see the effect of any change made.

 

How many units does R100 of electricity buy?

R100 of prepaid electricity buys roughly 26 to 37 units (kWh) in South Africa. Eskom’s own direct customers get the best rate, at close to 37 units for R100. But most households pay municipal rates instead, which land lower and vary by area.

Here’s what R100 buys across a few major metros:

Metro	Units for R100 (kWh)
Johannesburg	≈ 33
Tshwane	≈ 29
Durban	≈ 27
Cape Town	≈ 26

 

*Figures are approximate and can shift through the billing cycle under inclining block tariffs.

Many municipalities also use inclining block tariffs, which get more expensive per unit the more is bought in a month. That means the same R100 can buy as little as 8 units late in the billing cycle. Buying smaller amounts more often helps avoid the steepest block.

 

Final thoughts

Cutting your electricity bill rarely comes down to one big change.

It’s the small habits, stacked together, that move the number on your statement.

Electricity is just one line on a tighter household budget, though.

By the way, if debt is squeezing your budget too, talk to our team at My Debt Hero.

We specialise in helping South Africans manage their debt. Visit My Debt Hero to see if you qualify and get started.