Are Generators Expensive to Run?

Buco 17 Mar 2023

Not only is generator fuel expensive, but it`s also becoming increasingly difficult to find. That`s why it`s more important than ever to make sure your generator is running as efficiently as possible.

Did you know? Running home generators through Stage 4 load-shedding will cost a medium to high-energy usage household between R485 and R780 per month in fuel

As Eskom’s woes grow, most businesses utilise a diesel generator as a backup for power supply, while more and more families are looking for a portable generator to keep their home comforts up. If South Africa’s load-shedding situation were upped to Stage 6, customers would be shed for an average of 9 hours a day or 63 hours a week.

Consider the following, current prices of fuel as at October, 2022:

Unleaded 93: R22.06 p/L
Unleaded 95: R22.36 p/L
Diesel 500ppm: R24.06 p/L
Diesel 50-ppm: R24.31 p/L

On average, it takes 0.12 litres of petrol to generate 1kWh of power, meaning smaller households use 0.08 litres per hour of portable generator use, higher-energy homes use 0.14 litres per hour, and houses on the high-end of energy consumption use 0.22 litres per hour in their home generator.

As the country has had to come to terms with loadshedding, second-tier diesel generators or an inverter generator prove popular. These can provide 60 kilovolt-amps (KVa) to 500 KVa, enough to power small malls, restaurants, and refrigerators in the food industry. For domestic use, smaller home generators can retail within a range between R2,000 and R40,000 to buy.

BUCO offers a range of generators with over 30 unique products in this category alone.

BUCO means many different things to different people. With our expansive, extensive ranges, you can go from DIY building and alterations to arts and crafts, cleaning, gardening and — as with generators — sorting all the home generator tips too. 

Find your nearest BUCO store now.

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