"Cheapest Meal": South African Man Breaks Down the Cost of Electricity for Making Toast

• A South African man shared a calculation on social media about the cost of using electricity to make toast, sparking conversations about energy use
• The gent’s breakdown revealed that making toast for 2.5 minutes costs less than expected, showcasing the cost of this simple kitchen task
• The post generated interest online, with viewers praising the demonstration and sharing their thoughts on electricity costs and ways to save energy
• Briefly News spoke to financial expert Fulufhelani Mashapha about the impact of small household appliances on electricity bills in South Africa. With NERSA's tariff hikes and more increases ahead, she shared how families can manage rising costs without affecting essential needs

A South African man has taken to social media to share an eye-opening calculation about how much it costs to use electricity for a simple kitchen task, such as making toast.

His breakdown has sparked conversations online about energy use and household expenses.

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The man took to his Facebook account under the handle Wes Reddy, where he began by posing the question, saying:

“What does it cost your electricity to make some toast?”

Wes Reddy explained that a standard toaster typically uses around 850 watts of power. To illustrate, he demonstrated how he set his toaster at number three for two and a half minutes to toast bread.

He then broke down the maths step by step. First, he divided 850 watts by 60 minutes, then adjusted it to account for usage per 100 watt-hours. From there, he multiplied the figure by the 2.5 minutes his toaster was running. Finally, he multiplied the result by R4, the average cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity.

The outcome of his calculation revealed that making toast for two and a half minutes costs just 14 cents.

“That’s probably the cheapest meal you can make at home,” he expressed in the video that he shared on 2 September 2025 on Facebook.

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Viewers praised the demonstration for making energy consumption easier to understand. Some commented that while the cost of running a toaster is minimal, appliances such as geysers, stoves, and heaters remain the real culprits in high electricity bills. Others found humour in the idea, joking that toast might indeed be South Africa’s most affordable meal with the rising cost of electricity and cost of living in Mzansi.

These increases are a result of NERSA-approved tariff hikes aimed at covering Eskom's costs and moving toward cost-reflective pricing, along with higher municipal costs. For instance, Eskom tariffs went up by 12.74% in April 2025, with additional hikes of 8.76% and 8.83% scheduled for 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Expert tips on managing rising electricity costs

While speaking to Briefly News, financial expert Fulufhelani Mashapha shared the impact of small household appliances on electricity bills in South Africa. With NERSA's tariff hikes and more increases ahead, she explained how families can manage rising costs without affecting essential needs by saying:

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"Small appliances like kettles, heaters, and tumble dryers may seem insignificant, but over time their usage adds up on the electricity bill. With NERSA’s tariff hikes, households will feel this impact even more in the coming years."

The expert added how families can manage rising costs without compromising essential needs and shared budgeting tips to help households cope with these price increases.

"Families can manage these rising costs by being intentional — switching off appliances when not in use, investing in energy-efficient devices, and using alternatives like air-drying clothes. From a budgeting perspective, it’s about creating room for higher electricity costs by trimming non-essentials and making small, cost-saving investments such as LED bulbs or solar lights."

She added:

"Installing motion sensor lighting, using a gas stove, and switching to a gas heater during winter are also effective ways to reduce electricity consumption and save in the long run."

SA reacts to the cost of running a toaster

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The online community took to the comments section to share their thoughts on electricity in South Africa and more.

Chanel Ludek said:

"I saved R400 last month because of your electricity saving tips! Thanks so much."

Stenna Stephanus stated:

"Thanks, Wes Reddy, could you do one for aircon and smart converters?"

Karen Erasmus shared:

"Thanks for this. We have two fans running at night for 9 hours, in the morning, the kw has dropped 40 units."

Pavitska Badasie expressed:

"Love this! We're getting close to figuring out the culprit of our exorbitant electricity bill, and so far, it's none of my appliances that I suspected. It must be the inverter."

Soyaip Moosa commented:

"You are doing a great service to people, Wes Reddy."

Watch the video below:

More stories on electricity by Briefly News

• A South African man took to social media to explain how prepaid metering systems work, providing valuable insight for tenants, landlords, and homeowners.
• One gent in SA had calculated the cost of running a Wi-Fi router for a whole month, and the figures have caught the attention of many online.
• A man has sparked an online debate after breaking down the cost of using an electric blanket, revealing how affordable it can be to stay warm during winter.

Source: Briefly News