We Solved the Blackout. We Never Solved the Bill.
How South African homes can cut their electricity bill by starting with the appliance that works the hardest, the geyser.
For most of the last decade, South Africa's energy conversation was dominated by one question: will the power stay on? Households invested in inverters, batteries, solar panels and gas backups to survive load shedding, while Eskom, municipalities and private players worked to stabilise the grid. That work mattered and the country is in a very different position today.
But while the blackout has eased, the bill has not. And that is the new challenge facing every South African home: not whether there is electricity, but whether households can still afford to use it.
The Electricity Price Increase Nobody Can Ignore
In 2026, Eskom direct customers were hit with an average electricity price increase of 8.76%, effective 1 April, with a further 8.83% increase already approved for April 2027. Municipal customers are feeling it too: NERSA approved 176 municipal and local-authority tariff applications for 2026/27. In Johannesburg, City Power customers face an average 8.63% increase from 1 July 2026, with some households paying between R56 and R122 more every month depending on usage.
The uncomfortable reality is that many homes still use electricity the same way they did ten or twenty years ago, despite paying far more for every unit. We have made real progress on supply, but not on how electricity is used inside the home. That is exactly where the next big saving sits.
The Appliance Nobody Considered: Your Geyser
The Appliance Nobody Considered: Your Geyser
For most households, the biggest electricity user is not the television, fridge, kettle, washing machine or lights. It is water heating.
Research on South African household energy use has consistently identified the geyser as one of the largest contributors to domestic electricity consumption. A South African energy-efficiency labelling guide notes the geyser can account for around 39% of monthly household energy use, while a local geyser cost-efficiency study found water heating in middle- to upper-income homes can make up 40% to 50% of total household electricity consumption.
That means a household trying to reduce its electricity bill without looking at water heating may be ignoring close to half of the problem. A conventional electric geyser uses energy to heat water and then keeps using energy to maintain that temperature all day. In a busy family home, it quietly becomes one of the most expensive lines on the monthly bill — yet it is often the last place homeowners look.
Self-clean for healthier air and less maintenance
“The mistake many households make is assuming that electricity saving starts with the small things. Those changes help, but the biggest savings usually come from addressing the biggest loads. In most homes, that means water heating,”
says Murray Crow, Managing Director of Kwikot.
“The mistake many households make is assuming that electricity saving starts with the small things. Those changes help, but the biggest savings usually come from addressing the biggest loads. In most homes, that means water heating,”
says Murray Crow, Managing Director of Kwikot.
A Policy Blind Spot, Not a Budgeting Problem
A Policy Blind Spot, Not a Budgeting Problem
When tariffs rise, households are usually told to budget better, monitor usage or change daily habits. Those actions matter but if the most energy-intensive appliance in the home is inefficient, the household is already starting from a weak position.
Simple upgrades make a real difference. A geyser timer prevents water from being reheated unnecessarily through the day. A geyser blanket and pipe insulation reduce heat loss. Lowering the geyser thermostat slightly cuts demand, and regular maintenance keeps the system efficient. But these are only part of the answer. The bigger question is whether the water-heating system itself still suits the cost environment households face today.
What a More Efficient Geyser Could Save You
Consider a household using 900kWh a month, where water heating accounts for 40% of usage:
|
Metric |
Figure |
|
Geyser consumption (40% of 900kWh) |
≈ 360 kWh / month |
|
Cost at R3 per kWh |
≈ R1,080 / month on hot water |
|
Saving if reduced by 30% |
≈ R324 / month |
|
Annual saving |
≈ R3,900 / year |
At higher tariffs, the saving grows every year. This is why households should look beyond the purchase price of a geyser and weigh the total cost of ownership over its lifetime.
“Water heating should not be an afterthought. It should be part of the household's energy strategy. The right system can reduce consumption, manage long-term costs and ease pressure on the grid. The wrong system can lock a household into years of unnecessary expense,” says Crow.
Your Options: From Electric Geysers to Heat Pumps and Solar
The right answer is not the same for every home, but the principle is: choose a water-heating system based on lifetime running cost, not just purchase price. Here are the main options.
Optimise your existing electric geyser
A well-managed electric water heater can be improved with a timer, correct thermostat settings, insulation and regular servicing, the most accessible starting point for households not ready to replace their system.
Switch to a heat pump
A heat pump geyser can significantly cut the electricity needed to heat water because it uses ambient air to transfer heat rather than generating it from an element. Performance varies with installation, climate and usage, but the principle is powerful: the system moves heat from the surrounding air into the water instead of producing it all directly. Explore domestic heat pumps for family homes.
Go solar
A solar geyser reduces dependence on grid electricity by heating water directly from the sun. Eskom's guidance notes that, depending on the system and how it is used, a solar water-heating system can supply between 50% and 90% of a building's hot water. The Elon Solar PV range is one option worth comparing.
Consider gas
A gas water heater may suit homes where instant hot water, space constraints or energy diversification are priorities, though running cost and installation requirements should be carefully assessed.
5 Questions to Ask Before Replacing a Geyser
The first question should not be “what is the cheapest geyser to install?” It should be “what will this system cost me every month for the next ten to fifteen years?”
Before you replace or install a geyser, ask:
1. How many people use hot water in the home every day?
2. What time of day is hot water used most?
3. Is the current geyser correctly sized for the household?
4. Is the geyser losing heat because it is poorly insulated or incorrectly managed?
5. Would a heat pump, solar water heater or hybrid solution reduce the long-term running cost?
Tariff increases compound over time. A household that saves R300 a month today is not only saving R3,600 this year — it is reducing its exposure to every future increase on that portion of usage. As tariffs rise, efficiency becomes a form of protection. Need help deciding? Our complete geyser guide for South Africans and solar geyser guide break down the choices in detail.
What the Next Decade Needs to Fix
For homeowners, this means asking better questions before replacing a geyser. For developers, it means designing homes with long-term affordability in mind — a cheaper installation on day one can become an expensive burden for years. For policymakers and regulators, it means giving household consumption the same seriousness that generation has received, through building standards, incentive schemes and consumer education. And for the plumbing and construction industries, it means helping consumers understand the difference between cheapest upfront and cheapest over time.
This is also a grid issue. Every inefficient appliance installed today becomes part of tomorrow's demand. When households use electricity more efficiently, everyone benefits, consumers, municipalities, Eskom and the broader economy.
“We solved the blackout, but we have not solved the bill. The next opportunity is to help households use less electricity without compromising comfort. Water heating is one of the most practical places to start,” concludes Crow.
Start Saving With Kwikot
Ready to cut your water-heating costs? Compare Kwikot geysers, heat pumps and solar water heating, browse timers, blankets and accessories, or log a service call to get expert help. For more energy-saving tips, visit the Kwikot blog.
About Kwikot
Established in 1903, Kwikot is South Africa's leading provider of water heating solutions. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, Kwikot offers a range of products including electric geysers, solar water heaters, gas water heaters and heat pumps. Now part of Haier, Kwikot continues to drive progress in the water heating industry, delivering reliable and energy-efficient solutions to homes and businesses across South Africa.