Load-shedding has reignited an old kitchen debate: gas or electric? For a South African home, the answer increasingly leans one way — but it depends what you value. Here's the honest comparison.
The load-shedding factor
This is gas's trump card. A gas hob cooks through load-shedding — no mains power needed (ignition is a battery or spark). A gas oven works too; electric ovens don't. If cooking dinner during an outage matters, gas wins.
Running cost and control
Gas often works out cheaper to run (depending on LPG vs electricity prices) and gives instant, precise heat control that cooks love. Induction electric is efficient and convenient too — but it's the resilience that's driving the switch.
The best-of-both setup
Many homes fit a gas hob with an electric oven — cook on gas during load-shedding, bake conveniently on electric when the power's on.
Installation matters
A fixed gas stove must be installed by a registered installer with proper piping, ventilation and a gas Certificate of Conformity (legally required and needed for insurance). The electric oven side needs compliant dedicated wiring — which we handle. Ask us about your kitchen setup.