2. Introduction
• A tariff is a list or schedule of pre-determined prices for services like
trains, busses, and electrical usage.
• Tariffs can also be called “rates”.
• Electricity tariff is then a schedule of prices that relate to the receipt of
electricity, in other words, how much you will pay per unit of electricity that
you use.
• Electricity tariffs differ from city to city
• In Cape Town there are two possible tariff schedules, Domestic Tariff and
Lifeline Tariff.
• Click here
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/electricity/Pages/ElectricityTariffs.aspx to
read more about the electricity tariffs Cape town.
• A telephone tariff is the cost of telephone calls, usually the cost per
minute or second spent talking.
• The tariff will depend on the service provider.
• The main landline service provider in South Africa is Telkom.
• Click here http://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/53803-telkoms-new-
prices-full-details.html to read more about Telkom’s landline tariffs.
3. Tips On How to Save Electricity
1. When bathing, use as little water as possible, or better still have a shower.
2. Do not switch off the geyser for short periods of time as more electricity is needed to
heat the water back up to the set temperature when it is switched on again.
3. Do not allow hot water taps to drip.
4. It is cheaper to heat water in a kettle than to heat it in a pot on the stove.
5. When using a kettle, do not fill it right to the top if you only intend making one cup of
tea.
6. It is cheaper to use an electric blanket than to heat the bedroom with a heater.
7. Dishwashers and washing machines should only be used when one has a full load to
wash and not just a few items.
8. Do not wash one cup at a time under the hot tap but rather stack the dirty dishes and
wash them together in the sink at the same time.
9. Compact fluorescent lights can save three-quarters of the electricity used by
incandescent lights and have a much longer operating life.
10. Do not leave lights on when you leave a room.
• NOTE: There is currently a shortage of electrical generating capacity in the country. To
minimise the load on the electrical network try to avoid the use of high consuming
appliances during the evening peak hours of 18:00 to 21:00, this includes heaters, air
conditioners, stoves, hot water geysers, tumble dryers, washing machines and
dishwashers
4. Electricity Usage
• Plot the electricity usage on a graph to analyse the data
• Note a general increase over weekends and cold days
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ElectricityUsage(Kwh)
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Graph Showing 2 weeks of Electricity Usage during April in a Household of 4
