South Africans are used to stretching every rand, but 2025 has made that a little tougher. According to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), Eskom direct customers faced an average 12.74% increase from April 2025, while municipal customers are seeing around 11.32% from July. Those numbers might look small on paper, but they stack on top of nearly 900% in total increases since 2007, far above inflation.
(Eskom, Norton Rose Fulbright, PowerOptimal)

Electricity has become one of the most unpredictable and expensive monthly costs for South Africans. You can’t control Eskom, but you can take control of your own efficiency. A few targeted upgrades can make a big difference.

Start by Knowing Where Your Power Goes

Before cutting back, you need to know what’s actually eating your electricity. Geysers, heaters and pool pumps are the usual suspects, but outdated wiring or unbalanced circuits can quietly add to the bill too.

An LMS Electrical inspection can spot these issues before they drain your wallet. Their team looks for overloads, faulty connections and power losses that most homeowners would never notice on their own.

Lighting: The Easiest Win

Lighting still accounts for a surprising chunk of most bills. The good news is that it’s one of the simplest fixes. Swapping traditional bulbs for LEDs can reduce lighting costs by up to 80%, and you’ll hardly ever have to replace them.

For offices, complexes or homes with large outdoor areas, adding timers or motion sensors ensures lights only burn when they’re needed. A few small tweaks can shave a solid percentage off your monthly usage.

Tame the Geyser

Your geyser is a quiet heavyweight in your electricity consumption, often using up to 40% of the total power in your home.

Install a timer to heat water only during the hours you actually use it. A geyser blanket helps trap heat, and pipe insulation prevents unnecessary reheating. If you’re thinking long-term, a solar or heat-pump system is the gold standard for cutting water-heating costs over time.

Bring in Smart Technology

Technology can do the heavy lifting for you. Smart plugs, meters and apps allow you to monitor your usage in real time, turn off idle devices remotely and schedule heavy-use items during cheaper, off-peak periods.

Businesses can take this further by using automated load management to prevent spikes that lead to inflated demand charges. In today’s market, automation isn’t a luxury, it’s a survival tactic.

Maintenance Matters More Than You Think

Old wiring doesn’t just pose a safety risk; it can quietly waste power every single day. Loose connections, corrosion and overloaded circuits reduce efficiency and raise the risk of electrical faults.

Regular preventative maintenance from a qualified electrician keeps your system running smoothly and efficiently. LMS Electrical offers maintenance plans designed specifically for homes, complexes and commercial properties that want both safety and savings.

The Bottom Line

Eskom’s prices may keep climbing, but your bill doesn’t have to. Smart lighting, efficient heating, modern automation and regular maintenance can all trim your energy use, and the sooner you start, the more you save.

A few smart choices today will go a long way toward protecting your pocket tomorrow.

References:

• Eskom Newsroom – Tariff Announcement 2025
• Norton Rose Fulbright – NERSA Tariff Changes Explained
• PowerOptimal – Eskom Tariff Increases vs Inflation (1988–2026)
• News24 – Municipal Tariff Hikes 2025