"I Have 3": Oil-Filled Heater Test Reveals R840 Monthly Cost as SA Electricity Prices Surge

• Johannesburg content creator Wes Reddy tested a 2000-watt oil filled heater to see how much it costs South Africans to run daily
• Reddy found the heater costs around R7 per hour at the current electricity rate of R3.50 per unit
• South Africans in the comments were not surprised, with many saying the heaters are simply not worth the electricity bill

A Johannesburg content creator put a popular home heater to the test. Wes Reddy, who regularly shares electricity tips and tricks, ran a full performance review of a 2000-watt oil filled heater so his followers would not have to find out the hard way.

Reddy placed a temperature sensor one metre from the heater and monitored the room over 30 minutes. The result? The room temperature climbed by only about 3 degrees. The heater also took a considerable amount of time before it began to make any noticeable difference.

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What the electricity bill actually looks like

At South Africa's current rate of R3.50 per unit of electricity, running the heater costs roughly R7 per hour. Over a four-hour stretch, that adds up to R28. For anyone using it daily, the monthly bill lands at around R840 — a significant expense at a time when electricity costs are already climbing.

Eskom increased tariffs for direct customers from April 2026, while municipal customers faced an average 9.01% hike from July 2026. City Power in Johannesburg implemented an 8.63% increase. Over the longer term, electricity prices have risen by 987% since 2007, compared to general inflation of 150% over the same period.

Reddy stamped his verdict clearly: the heater uses a lot of electricity, takes too long to warm a room, and at 2000 watts, ranks among the more expensive options available. "For me, this one isn't a favourite," he said.

Mzansi agrees the heater is not worth it

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South Africans in the comments section had plenty to say in the comments section of the Facebook page:

@Donny MacAskill said:

"I have 3 in my garage and they staying there 🤣🤣🤣 Voetsek Oil Heaters!! 🤣🤣🤣"

@Dharmesh Amrathlal suggested:

"3 panel gas heater is best, it heats the room quickly then drop it to 1 panel. It has safety functions also."

@Debra Daniels asked:

"Does it depend on the size of heater? Ours is a 6 Finn. Will it use less electricity?"

Watch Wes Reddy's full heater test here:

More on SA electricity and energy costs

• Briefly News recently reported on Exxaro's new R1.7 billion solar plant in Limpopo, built to save its Grootegeluk mine R100 million a year in electricity costs.
• An Eskom engineer died after suffering a fatal electric shock while on duty at a substation in Gariep Dam.
• A Cape Town man's rant about the abandoned Athlone Power Station struck a chord, with Mzansi joking the city would rather build a data centre than help the community.

Source: Briefly News