Approximately 14% of
households in the CMA do not have electricity, 49% of these being black households. The current standard cost of electricity supplied by Eskom for domestic
use is 23.19 c/KWh.
It is estimated that about 90% of paraffin is used for domestic
purposes, primarily in lower income groups, where it is used mainly for heating purposes
and to lesser extent for lighting purposes.
In 1995, 5% of inhabitants of the CMA use gas, while wood is used
by approximately 2% of the population.
Cheaper sources of energy are still preferred by low-income
groups for cooking and heating due to the cost of electrical appliances. Liquid petroleum
gas is the preferred cooking fuel for
non-electrified and low-income electrified households.
These energy sources pose various health risks such as smoke,
burns, and poisoning.
