Bridge the Gap – An EMM initiative

Add as a preferred source on Google

Facts on prepaid this winter

Winter is upon us, and with the chill of winter comes the accounts for keeping one’s family warm. Electricity cost has become increasingly high and the sudden cold has placed significant pressure on household budgets, especially the electricity account.

Many residents have moved over to a pre-paid electricity meter a few years ago, when their monthly municipal electricity bills became equal to a mid-size car instalment. This was a wise decision as it gave them control over meter reading concerns, ensuring that they pay for what they consume and that they receive no more interim billing.

This also assisted many families at the same time to manage their electricity consumption. With the recent cold, electricity consumption skyrocketed with heaters and electrical blankets being used more often. A prepaid meter greatly assists to plan how your family can use electricity more wisely and reduce and save without freezing.

To ensure that residents do not overpay for electricity this winter, please make sure your prepaid meter is on the right tariff. Prepaid users on tariff A get the most benefit and it makes economic sense if you use less than 800 units a month. Tariff A is ideal for domestic consumption in small and medium households and is most economical if you use 450 units or less a month.

Residents on Tariff A also benefit from the 100 units of free electricity provided by Ekurhuleni as part of the social benefit package. Larger households that use more than 1 000 units a month and if you use more than 800 units a month on prepaid electricity, tariff A becomes very expensive. There is an option for prepaid meter owners with larger households to migrate to tariff B that is a fixed-rate electricity charge per unit, and is more economic for higher domestic consumption in suburban homes.

The tariff B rate is significantly lower than the tariff A rate for consumers that use more than 800 units a month on average. If your electricity bill is placing strain on your domestic budget and you want to bridge the gap by paying less for electricity, migrate to tariff B.

Paying less for prepaid may help residents to buffer some of the increased electricity bills this winter. For full detail on electricity tariffs, residents can visit www.ekurhuleni.gov.za. Let’s bridge the gap and pay less for prepaid electricity this winter.