Another Solar Thread: What is your average Eskom Monthly Bill?

[Smokey888]

For the guys that have fairly big setups IE 8KW, 12KW, 16KW systems. What is your average Eskom bill as well as what is the Solar setup you currently have? Nr of panels, size of Inverter, size of batteries?

 

[nuyork]

8kW SunSynk Inverter
15kWh SunSynk Batteries (3)
7.8kWp JA Solar Panels (12x380W & 6x545W)

Everything connected to the inverter, including geyser, oven and stovetop.

Averaging R425 per month (direct Eskom customer)

Network Capacity Charge (connection) averaging R320 per month is the bulk of my bill and then 15% VAT on top of everything.

​

Month​	kW Used​	kW Amount​	Total Bill​
September 2024​	25 kWh​	R61.39​	R433.55​
October 2024​	38 kWh​	R93.31​	R470.25​
November 2024​	13 kWh​	R31.92​	R423.86​
December 2024​	11 kWh​	R27.01​	R381.90​
January 2025​	15 kWh​	R36.83​	R441.59​
February 2025​	14 kWh​	R34.38​	R402.48​

​

 

[Pansyfaust]

My municipality is still charging me an average monthly usage of like 180KW, even though we are much less and have been submitting readings since getting Solar (Sep 2023). Comes to around R400-500 a month

They are charging us at 5.8KW per day when our usage is in the region of 2-3 per day.

The ****ers are basically moving the average down slightly every month, ensuring that new bills using the new adjusted yearly costs will apply, so even though we get "refunded" some we are being refunded at different rates to when the power was actually used.

 

[Mzezman]

Luckily we do not get a network charge in Tshwane (yet). System is a 10kw inverter (2x5kw) and 14.4kWh battery bank with 6.03 kWp of panels. Average eskom bill (prepaid) is R720/month ~ 290units (summer and winter)

 

[phoneJunky]

My municipality is still charging me an average monthly usage of like 180KW, even though we are much less and have been submitting readings since getting Solar (Sep 2023). Comes to around R400-500 a month

They are charging us at 5.8KW per day when our usage is in the region of 2-3 per day.

The ****ers are basically moving the average down slightly every month, ensuring that new bills using the new adjusted yearly costs will apply, so even though we get "refunded" some we are being refunded at different rates to when the power was actually used.

Them charging you more and having to readjust after will only ever hurt them if the new rates kick in.

Unless they started averaging way before you did your installation. Even then averaging won't normally help them when they get the reading.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Normal summer - around 50 kWh per month.

Current summer - around 250 kWh per month. ~R1,000 with the R200 fixed fee.

Winter - around 800 kW per month. Don't even want to think about the cost.

8 kW inverter, 6.3 kWp, 19.2 kWh batteries...

 

[Mzezman]

Normal summer - around 50 kWh per month.

Current summer - around 250 kWh per month. ~R1,000 with the R200 fixed fee.

Winter - around 800 kW per month. Don't even want to think about the cost.

8 kW inverter, 6.3 kWp, 19.2 kWh batteries...

Hey Mike, given where things are at the moment do you think you’ll upgrade your system?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Hey Mike, given where things are at the moment do you think you’ll upgrade your system?

Probably another 2-3 kW of panels which should hopefully make a dent in winter. Don't think there's much more I can do if it's raining for weeks...