High Electricity Usage

High Electricity Usage

High electricity consumption is a combination of many things which the resident will need to take into consideration before a conclusion is reached.

How electricity is used during summer is different from how it is used in winter. Winter is much colder and the nights are longer so heaters are used, the kettle is boiled more often for a warm drink, hot meals are cooked, and lights are turned on earlier in the day, this leads to increased consumption.

Please note the following items and how they, on average, contribute to your electricity bill:

  • Geyser 39%

  • Heaters 16%

  • Other household items (TV, computers, gaming console, etc.) 12%

  • Pool Pump 11%

  • Stove & Oven 7%

  • Lights 6%

  • Cold Storage (fridge / freezer) 5%

  • Laundry 3%

  • Other Cooking appliances 1%

It is recommended to set the geyser temperature to between 50 and 55 degrees Celcius to reduce electricity usage by the geyser.

Eskom stressed that even in standby mode, TVs, DVD players and set top boxes still use up to 50% off their operating power, while mobile phone charges also continue to draw electricity unless turned off at the plug.

If the resident is concerned about a faulty meter follow these steps to test the meter:
Electricity test:

  1. Check your electric meter to see if the dial is spinning. The faster it spins the more electricity is being used.

  2. Shut all breakers off at the panel/DB box.

  3. Check that the meter stops spinning. It should.

    1. If it keeps turning, the meter may be faulty - please report this suspected fault to STss.

  4. Turn the breakers on one by one and see which one starts the meter dial moving. Then see what the breaker controls (hot water, fridge, freezer, etc,). This will give you an idea of what is using electricity in your home.

  5. Read your meter each day at the same time for three or four days. This will show you how many kilowatt-hours you use per day.

  6. Compare the kilowatt-hour usage to the usage noted on the Prepaid meter. If you suspect the prepaid meter is faulty, the meter can be tested. If the test determines that there is nothing wrong with the meter, the cost of the test will be for the owner of the unit's account. If the prepaid meter or the main meter is faulty, the meter will be replaced.


REMEMBER:

You can reduce your usage by changing your behaviour and daily activities.

  • Use blankets to keep warm instead of heaters.

  • Use a thermos flask to store hot water for use throughout the day instead of boiling the kettle multiple times.

  • Use LED light bulbs instead of CFL or filament globes. LED light bulbs use very little electricity.

  • Use a geyser timer to only heat the geyser for a couple hours before you need it, instead of having it on all day and all night. e.g. have the geyser turn on at 4am for your 6am shower.

  • Reduce the temperature of the geyser to 55 degrees.

  • Turn off appliances at the plug when they are not in use (TV, gaming console, etc).

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