By Murray Crow, managing director, Kwikot
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) announced on 8 February 2026 what many South Africans have long feared: South Africans are once again being asked to absorb higher electricity costs, this time as a result of regulatory failures beyond the control of households and businesses alike. With tariffs now approved to rise by up to 8.3% a year through to 2028, the pressure on family budgets is undeniable.
Murray Crow, managing director, Kwikot. Supplied by Kwikot
In an environment as unstable as this, waiting for certainty is no longer a strategy. What is within our control is how we respond.
The way South Africans use energy in their homes needs to change, not out of fear, but out of necessity. This moment calls for a future-forward mindset, one that balances immediate financial relief with smart, long-term decisions that protect households from the next shock.
Start with what you can change now
When finances are tight, small changes matter. They may not solve everything, but they can ease pressure quickly.
Water heating is the single biggest energy cost in most homes, accounting for up to 50% of monthly electricity use. That makes it the most effective place to start.
Shorter showers, avoiding unnecessary hot water use and staggering demand throughout the day all reduce how often a geyser must reheat water. These are not lifestyle sacrifices. They are practical adjustments that deliver real savings within the first month.
Lowering a geyser thermostat to 55–60°C is another simple step. Many systems are set hotter than needed, which increases electricity use without improving comfort. Adjusting this setting alone can cut water heating costs by up to 10%.
These changes help households regain some breathing room, but they are only part of the answer.
Short-term fixes will not protect us long term
The uncomfortable truth is that electricity prices are unlikely to stabilise anytime soon. Grid pressure, infrastructure constraints, and regulatory uncertainty mean households will remain exposed unless they reduce their reliance on conventional electric water heating altogether.
This is where long-term thinking becomes essential.
Choosing a water heating system today is no longer just about having hot water tomorrow. It is a decision about cost resilience, energy independence and environmental responsibility over the next decade.
Smarter electric systems are the first step forward
Electric geysers remain common because they are affordable and familiar. But they do not have to remain inefficient.
Smart technologies like our ELON® Solar PV Water Heating Range that now allows households to upgrade existing systems so that water is heated only when needed. By controlling heating cycles and preventing overheating, smart systems significantly reduce wasted electricity. Importantly, they also prepare homes for future integration with solar PV, turning a standard geyser into a more sustainable asset rather than a liability.
For many households, this is the most accessible entry point into smarter energy use.
Renewable water heating changes the equation entirely
For those able to invest further, renewable water heating offers the strongest long-term protection against rising tariffs.
Solar thermal water heating uses South Africa’s abundant sunshine to heat water directly, reducing electricity use by up to 40%. With proper system selection, most installations pay for themselves within three to five years.
Heat pumps go even further. By extracting heat from the surrounding air rather than generating it, they use 60–70% less electricity than conventional systems. From an environmental perspective, a single heat pump can reduce carbon emissions by up to 3 000–3 500kg per year, with most systems paying for themselves in as little as two to three years.
These technologies do more than lower bills. They insulate households from future price hikes and reduce pressure on the national grid.
Future-proofing starts with informed choices
South Africans are resilient, but resilience should not depend on endurance alone. It should be designed into the systems we choose to live with every day.
By understanding where energy is used, making small changes today and investing wisely for tomorrow, households can shift from being passive price-takers to active energy managers.
In an era of regulatory uncertainty and rising administered prices, the most powerful financial tool available to consumers is informed choice and early action. Energy decisions made now will determine whether households remain exposed to every future tariff increase or insulated from them.
South Africans may not control electricity prices, but they can control their exposure to them. The question is no longer whether energy costs will rise again, but whether households are prepared for when they do.
