Cape Town uses a tiered tariff system for residential electricity, comprising the Lifeline, Domestic, and Home User tariffs. Your applicable tariff depends on several factors, including monthly usage, property value, meter type, and rebate status.
Residential Electricity Tariffs (2024/25)
Effective from July 1, 2024, the following tariffs apply to Cape Town’s supply area:
Lifeline Tariff
This highly subsidized tariff is designed for prepaid customers with limited means.
- 0-60 or 25 kWh: Free basic electricity (based on average consumption)
-
60 or 25-600 kWh: R237.08 c/kWh (incl. VAT)
-
600 kWh: R237.08 c/kWh (incl. VAT)
Qualifying Criteria:
- Average monthly usage below 450 kWh
- Property value less than R500,000
- Prepaid meter installed
Domestic Tariff
Applies to prepaid meter users consuming over 450 kWh monthly.
- 0-600 kWh: R390.70 c/kWh (incl. VAT)
- 600 kWh: R475.39 c/kWh (incl. VAT)
Qualifying Criteria:
- Property value between R500,000 and R1,000,000
- Prepaid meter installed
- Monthly usage above 450 kWh
Home User Tariff
For those not qualifying for Lifeline or Domestic tariffs.
- 0-600 kWh: R343.51 c/kWh (incl. VAT)
- 600 kWh: R475.39 c/kWh (incl. VAT)
- Monthly service charge: R281.78 (incl. VAT)
Qualifying Criteria:
- Property value R1,000,000 and above
- Credit meter installed
Commercial Electricity Tariffs
Commercial tariffs are based on power usage and include:
- Small Power User 1, 2, and 3
- Large User LV Time-of-Use
- Large User MV Time-of-Use
- High Voltage Time-of-Use
- Investment Incentive Tariffs
Commercial customers are charged service, energy, and demand charges, with Time-of-Use pricing applicable in some cases.
Cape Town-specific data for Businesses
Costs are calculated by taking the total cost of electricity and dividing it by your consumption. This takes into account all electricity-related costs instead of just kWh costs.
| Municipality | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost | Tariff Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Cape Town | R2.64 | R2.94 | 11.36% |
How can you reduce your costs?
Before you invest in any infrastructure, it is important to understand your current tariff structure and consumption behavior. This can be done by consulting the City of Cape Town tariff book and evaluating your account and meter data. If you want to fast-track the process, just click on the button below!