Gas

Gas is not centrally supplied to houses anywhere in South Africa, but you can order gas from some of these companies:

• The Gas Specialist: 17 Ave unit 8 Oval Park Maitland. Tel.: 021 5937090
• Laughtons Hardware (serving Cape Peninsula areas): 295 Main Rd Sea Point. Tel.: 021 4341560 Water Water charges are imposed on a sliding scale based upon the consumption of the household (or single connection) and measured in kiloliters. Bills are issued monthly via post and can be paid at any nearby post office or at the municipality itself. Water in South Africa is of high quality and drinkable. If you have small children, check whether water in your area has enough fluoride.
• E Phillip Engineering CC: 8 Imola Close Montague Gardens. Tel.: 021 5564275
• Kismet Supply Store: Park Rd Wynberg. Tel.: 021 7978804
• Easigas (PTY) LTD: Spin St Sacks Circle Bellville. Tel.: 021 9517050
• Eddlesgas: Pollsmoor Rd Kirstenhof Tokai. Tel.: 021 7618484                       

Water

Water charges are imposed on a sliding scale based upon the consumption of the household (or single connection) and measured in kiloliters. Bills are issued monthly via post and can be paid at any nearby post office or at the municipality itself.

Water in South Africa is of high quality and perfectly drinkable. If you have small children, check whether water in your area has enough fluoride.  

Electricity

The voltage in South Africa is 230V at 50Hz. The local sockets are three-pronged round sockets.

Due to shortage of power electricity rates in Cape Town have been drastically increased on July 1, 2008. The increase constitutes nearly 40% for comsumers with high domestic consumption. Thankfully, no further increases are expected during 2008. The new electricity rates are calculated based upon consumption thereof and for a single-phase connection (standard household supply) the charges are as follows:

Domestic High Consumption (above 600 kW.h/month)

• Service Charge: R1,99 per day +VAT = R2.27 per day
• Energy Charge: R 30.50 c/kW.h +VAT = 34.77 c/kWh

Domestic Low Consumption (below 600 kW.h/month)

• Energy Charge: 40.65 c/kW.h + VAT = 46.34 c/kWh

Newer properties now have electricity meters for pre-paid electricity. If you have an Eskom meter you can buy a top up at Pick'n'Pay using both cash or credit card, if you have a Cape Town City meter you can buy top ups at Checkers, Seven Elevens, BP and Caltex petrol stations using cash/creditcard. The Cape Peninsula (old Cape Town and South Peninsula areas) or Tygerberg areas can also register and purchase electricity online at www.energy.co.za or by phoning 021 710-2072. Cape Town, like the rest of South Africa, is experiencing both scheduled and unschedule power cuts. It was confirmed that the disruptions will continue untill 2011. If you want to know more about scheduled power cuts in your area visit www.eskom.co.za.