The actual average electricity consumed by South African households is far lower than Eskom’s claimed figure of 30kWh per day, data from multiple reputable sources shows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This raises big questions over the power utility’s assertion that its proposals for “cost-reflective” electricity tariff reform in South Africa will see average households paying roughly the same or just slightly more for power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eskom has been using a daily consumption figure of 30kWh for households for several years, despite electricity usage and population numbers changing radically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One possible data source is the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its last analysis published in 2021, the EIA calculated that South Africa’s electricity consumption per capita was 3,218kWh per year, working out to 8.8kWh per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the average household in South Africa having about 3.4 people at the time of that analysis, their average usage would be about 29.92kWh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, using the calculation for household consumption would not be correct as the per capita analysis is based on Eskom’s total electricity sales for the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2021, the year for which the EIA published its findings, that figure was about 191,000GWh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number includes demand from large power users such as factories, mines, and agriculture, which account for the vast majority of electricity consumption in South Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residential customers only use about a fifth (19% to 22%) of the total Eskom electricity consumed in a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That means the actual daily consumption per household in 2021 would have been around 5.68kWh to 6.58kWh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solar power and energy companies in South Africa estimate the daily household consumption of their customers to be higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, power station manufacturer EcoFlow puts the number at 7kWh per day<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n