Eskom Tariff Calculator South Africa
Calculate your electricity costs based on Eskom tariffs
Eskom tariffs change annually. This calculator uses 2025/2026 tariff estimates. Check your municipal rates as they may differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Eskom electricity tariffs for 2025/2026?
Eskom Homepower tariffs range from approximately R1.80/kWh (block 1: 0-350kWh) to R3.20/kWh (block 3: above 600kWh). Prepaid rates are slightly different.
Why is my electricity bill so high?
Inclined block tariffs charge more per kWh as you use more. Geyser, heater, and stove usage drive the highest consumption. Using over 600kWh/month pushes you into the expensive block.
How can I reduce my electricity bill?
Use a geyser timer, switch to LED lights, insulate your geyser, use gas for cooking, and consider solar water heating. Reducing consumption below 600kWh avoids the highest tariff block.
Eskom tariffs change annually. This calculator uses 2025/2026 tariff estimates. Check your municipal rates as they may differ.
How the Eskom tariff calculator works
A municipal or Eskom bill has two parts: a fixed charge you pay whether you use electricity or not, and a per-unit charge that rises in blocks as consumption increases.
900 kWh at R2.85 plus a R250 fixed charge is R2 815,00 a month. Remove the fixed charge and the effective rate looks like R3.13/kWh, which is the number to use when comparing with solar.
A 12% increase raises the same bill to R3 152,80 — R337,80 a month, or R4 054 a year, for the same usage.
What changes the answer in South Africa
Tariffs differ by municipality and by category (domestic, lifeline, prepaid), and large users move to time-of-use rates where the price per unit changes by time of day. Prepaid meters avoid the fixed charge in some municipalities but carry a higher unit rate. The free basic allocation — 50 kWh or 100 kWh a month depending on the municipality — applies only to indigent households registered for it.
Common questions about the Eskom tariff calculator
Why is my bill higher than kWh × rate?
Because of the fixed charge (R250 here) and any levies. Divide the total bill by the units used to get your real rate per kWh.
Is prepaid cheaper than a monthly account?
Not always. Prepaid often carries a higher unit rate but no fixed charge, so it is cheaper for low usage and more expensive for high usage.
What is the free basic electricity allocation?
50 kWh a month for registered indigent households in most municipalities, 100 kWh in some. It must be applied for; it is not automatic.