19 May 2006 Press release BE PREPARED FOR INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY ACCOUNTS THIS WINTER With the winter chill upon us already, and the cold front already settling in, customers are reminded that if household items such as heaters, tumble dryers, electric blankets or under-floor heating are being used regularly, they must anticipate an increase in their electricity accounts. "The amount the account will increase by is directly related to consumption. These increases are generally reflected from June to September on statements and customers should budget for additional electricity used in winter," says Mandy Jean Woods, spokesperson for the Revenue Department. "It is important to remember that winter started considerably earlier this year, and weather reports indicate that it may last longer than usual." According to City Power, the three largest appliances consuming electricity in any home during winter are geysers, stoves and electric heaters. Geysers can account for 30% to 40% of the total amount of electricity used in a household. Using these appliances in an efficient manner will significantly reduce your electricity bill. Customers should also consider insulating their homes against the cold, as this will reduce the amount of electricity required to heat the house. Below are a few tips to save electricity during the winter: When bathing, use as little hot water as possible, or have a shower. Hot water used in a bath can account for half of the entire contents of your geyser Do not wash only one cup at a time using hot water, rather stack the dishes and wash them all at the same time Set the hot water thermostat as low as possible - 50 to 60 degrees Celsius is recommended Heat water in a kettle rather than on a pot on the stove as this is more economical. Using small appliances such as slow cookers, electric coffee pots and bottle warmers require less electricity than a stove Do not cook food for longer than necessary, and use flat-bottomed cookware Do not cook food with the controls set higher than necessary Switch off heaters when leaving the room for any length of time It is cheaper to use an electric blanket than to heat the bedroom with a heater Curtains help to retain the heat in a room. Draw the curtains earlier in the evening, and keep doors closed to prevent heat escaping Do not leave lights on unnecessarily Thermostat-controlled heaters used at the lowest comfortable setting are very electricity-efficient Issued by: Mandy Jean Woods General Manager: Marketing and Communications Revenue Management Unit City of Johannesburg Phone: 358-3420 Fax: 358-3423 Cell: 082 553 4211 (Please send sms if urgent) Email: mandyw@joburg.org.za Ends Issued by: Mandy Jean Woods General Manager: Marketing and Communications Revenue Management Unit City of Johannesburg Phone: 358-3420 Fax: 358-3423 Cell: 082 553 4211 (Please send sms if urgent) Email: mandyw@joburg.org.za