What utilities typically make up the monthly bill for households
These are the main services most households pay for via municipalities, service providers, or utilities companies:
Utility / Service What it includes
Electricity / Power Energy used for lights, appliances, heating, cooling, water heating. Sometimes includes a fixed charge or basic service charge plus per-unit (kWh) usage charges. Prepaid meters vs conventional billing matter.
Water & Sanitation Water supply, sewerage, stormwater, drainage in some areas. There’s often a fixed basic charge plus consumption-based charges.
Refuse / Garbag Removal Regular collection of waste, often via municipal bins. Fee depends on bin size, frequency, sometimes property type.
Rates/Property Taxes/Municipal Rates Tax or levy based on the value of the property; funds municipal services (roads, streetlights etc.).
Sewerage/Stormwater/Drainage Sometimes bundled with water/sanitation; sometimes separate.
Internet / Connectivity This is not always included under a "municipal utility" but it's a recurring essential service.
Other services e.g. street lighting, infrastructure maintenance, environmental levies, sometimes security or shared service charges if in estates.
What households are actually paying - current figures & ranges
Here are some recent figures, drawn from multiple sources, to give you a sense of the cost ranges for South African households (as of 2024-2025). These will vary widely depending on location, size of household, usage, and whether one has prepaid vs postpaid services.
What drives utility bills up (or keeps them down)
Understanding what causes variation helps explain why two households in the same city may get very different bills.
Usage/consumption levels
- How many electrical appliances, how often they run (air-conditioning, heaters, geysers, pool pumps, etc.).
- Water usage (showers, gardens, leaks).
- Number of occupants.
Tariffs & rate structures
- Block tariffs for electricity (cheaper for the first block, more expensive beyond thresholds).
- Fixed charges/service fees vs variable usage charges.
- Prepaid electric meters vs conventional billing can have different effective rates and fees.
Municipality/location
- Different municipalities have different rates, fixed charges, subsidies, and service levels.
- Cities with higher property values often have higher rates/taxes.
- Infrastructure/maintenance costs vary.
Season/climate
- Summer/winter changes (cooling, heating).
- Rainy seasons influence water usage or storm damage, sometimes pushing up maintenance.
- Efficiency of appliances & household management
Energy-efficient fridges, LED lighting, etc.
- Insulation, sealing of homes (less leak of heat or cool air).
- Awareness and behavioural changes (turning off standby appliances, fixing leaks, etc.).
Inflation and regulatory increases
- Tariffs are usually adjusted regularly. For example, Eskom / municipalities and water boards or councils are increasing rates. (NowInSA)
Recent trends & pressures
- Increasing electricity tariffs: Households are facing above-inflation increases in electricity costs.
- Rising water & sanitation costs: Municipalities often raise these, especially where supply or infrastructure is under strain or drought conditions.
- Municipal rates / property taxes are increasing, sometimes in line with property valuations and inflation.
- Internet/connectivity is becoming a more significant portion of monthly bills, especially with higher-speed fibre plans.
What households can do/what to watch?
- Monitor meter readings and compare them to prior months; avoid large estimation errors.
- Look into energy efficiency: LED bulbs, efficient appliances, solar geysers, and insulation.
- Use off-peak tariffs (if available).
- Reduce water waste: fix leaks, use more efficient showers, and use water-saving devices.
- Compare internet/service provider plans — sometimes savings here are quite possible.
Be aware of future tariff increases via municipal budgets / regulatory decisions so as to budget for increases.