With Eskom tariffs climbing above inflation every year and load-shedding still a fact of life, more Johannesburg homeowners are weighing gas against electric for hot water. Here is the honest comparison — upfront, running cost and real-world practicality.
How they differ
An electric geyser keeps a tank of water hot 24/7, reheating whenever it cools — convenient, but it pays to keep water hot even when you are asleep or out. A gas geyser heats water on demand as it flows, so there is no standing tank and no standing loss.
Running cost
For small and medium households, on-demand gas often works out cheaper to run than an older electric geyser, because you only pay for water you actually use. But LPG prices move, and a modern electric geyser fitted with a GeyserWise controller — or better, a solar geyser or heat pump — narrows or beats the gap on long-term cost.
The load-shedding factor
This is gas's strongest card. A gas geyser needs no mains power to heat water, so you keep hot showers right through load-shedding. A standard electric geyser simply goes cold once the tank is used up.
Installation and compliance
A supplied-and-installed gas geyser typically runs R8,000–R18,000 including unit, gas plumbing, ventilation and a gas Certificate of Conformity — which is legally required and must be issued by a registered installer. Electric and solar options are covered on our hot water systems page.
Our recommendation
Choose gas if uninterrupted, on-demand hot water through load-shedding matters most. Choose a solar geyser or heat pump if the lowest long-term running cost is the goal. Unsure? Tell us your household size and usage and we will run the numbers with you.