The Options at a Glance
| Option | Cost | Powers | Running Cost | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS (small) | R500-R3,000 | WiFi router, phone charging | R0 | Silent |
| Power station (portable) | R3,000-R15,000 | Lights, laptop, TV, phone | R0 | Silent |
| Gas stove + gas geyser | R3,000-R15,000 | Cooking + hot water only | R200-R500/mo gas | Silent |
| Generator (petrol) | R4,000-R22,000 | Most appliances | R2,000-R5,500/mo fuel | Noisy |
| Inverter + battery | R15,000-R80,000 | Lights, fridge, TV, WiFi | R0 (uses stored Eskom) | Silent |
| Generator (diesel) | R25,000-R75,000 | Full home | R3,000-R8,000/mo fuel | Very noisy |
| Solar (no battery) | R55,000-R250,000 | Full home (daytime only) | R0 + saves R800-R5,000/mo | Silent |
| Solar + battery | R80,000-R400,000 | Full home, 24/7 | R0 + saves R800-R5,000/mo | Silent |
Option 1: Solar Panels
Best for: Homeowners who can afford R80K+ upfront or solar finance. The only option that reduces your electricity bill permanently.
Solar is the most expensive upfront but the cheapest long-term. A 5kW system pays for itself in 4-7 years, then produces free electricity for the next 20+ years. With a battery, you get 24/7 coverage including load shedding.
Downside: High upfront cost. Installation takes 1-4 weeks. Renters can't install. Battery adds R25K-R150K.
Option 2: Generators
Best for: Renters, temporary situations, or budgets under R10K. The cheapest way to power everything during load shedding — as long as you don't count fuel costs.
A 3-5kVA petrol generator costs R6K-R22K and powers lights, fridge, TV, microwave, and WiFi. The problem is fuel: at Stage 4, expect R2,500-R5,500/month. Plus noise, fumes, and maintenance.
Downside: Expensive to run. Noisy. Needs regular maintenance. Doesn't reduce your Eskom bill. Limited lifespan (5-10 years).
Option 3: Inverter + Battery (No Solar)
Best for: Homeowners who want silent backup without the full solar investment. Good if load shedding is your only concern (not Eskom bill reduction).
An inverter+battery system stores Eskom power when the grid is on and releases it during outages. A 5kWh system (R15K-R40K) gives 3-5 hours of light usage. A 10kWh system (R35K-R70K) covers a full 4-hour load shedding slot.
Downside: Doesn't reduce your Eskom bill — you're still paying for the power you store. Battery degrades over time (10-15 year replacement).
Option 4: Gas (Stove + Geyser)
Best for: Anyone who wants to eliminate their two biggest Eskom consumers: the stove and geyser. Works independently of load shedding.
A gas stove (R2K-R8K) and gas geyser (R5K-R12K) remove your biggest electricity consumers from the grid entirely. Gas costs R200-R500/month for a family of 4. This won't keep your lights on during load shedding, but it means your load shedding backup only needs to power lights, fridge, and entertainment — a much smaller (and cheaper) system.
Budget Guide: What Can You Get?
- Under R1,000: UPS for WiFi router (stay connected during load shedding)
- R3,000-R5,000: Gas stove OR portable power station (lights + charging)
- R6,000-R15,000: Small generator (3kVA) + gas stove combo
- R15,000-R40,000: Inverter + 5kWh battery (silent, 3-5 hour backup)
- R40,000-R80,000: Inverter + 10kWh battery (silent, 6-10 hour backup)
- R85,000-R130,000: 5kW solar system (no battery, daytime savings)
- R120,000-R200,000: 5kW solar + 10kWh battery (full independence)
- R200,000+: 8-15kW solar + large battery (full home, near off-grid)
Our Recommendation by Situation
- Tight budget, renting: Gas stove (R3K) + UPS for router (R500) + LED rechargeable lights (R200). Total: under R4,000.
- Medium budget, renting: 3kVA generator (R8K) + gas stove (R3K). Total: R11,000 + ~R1,500/mo fuel.
- Medium budget, homeowner: Inverter + 5kWh battery (R25K). Silent, zero running cost, covers essentials.
- Larger budget, homeowner: 5kW solar + 10kWh battery (R150K). Pays for itself in 5 years, then free power for 20+ years.
- Best long-term investment: 8-10kW solar + 15kWh battery. Near-complete Eskom independence. R200K-R300K upfront but saves R2M+ over 25 years.