Utilities (gas, water, electricity, refuse) in Cape Town
Utilities
If renting your accommodation, water, rates and refuse are generally included in the rental; only electricity is paid directly by the tenant. All other services, such as telephone, internet, and gas are the responsibility of the tenant and must be set up anew when taking occupation. Home buyers will need to set up all utility accounts from scratch.
Water
Water is supplied by the Cape Town Municipality and is charged on a sliding scale according to the amount used, including a free basic allocation. Call 086 010 3089 for water account enquiries. Bills can be paid online, at any Post Office and at most supermarkets. Water quality is high and tap water is drinkable.
Gas
Gas can only be bought or delivered in canister form and is not supplied via pipes is in European or American homes. A large 14kg bottle costs around R300 and can be bought at most petrol stations. Various gas delivery services exist as well.
Electricity
Electricity is provided by Eskom, as are the occasional black-outs as demand outstrips supply in the winter months. Supply is administered through prepay meters and vouchers can be bought online (once registered through the Municipality for electronic top-up) or at most supermarkets and petrol stations.
Telephone and internet
Telephone lines are provided by Telkom, which will install a new phone line within a few weeks of ordering one. This same line provides the conduit for ADLS internet services, even if you choose a different internet provider than Telkom. Internet service packages vary widely in terms of data, speed and price. Line rental is paid separately to the data component. See here for a comparison of various internet services.
Garbage/Refuse
Garbage is placed in black refuse bags, dumped in a black wheelie bin supplied by the Municipality, and collected once per week on a set day for each neighbourhood. The refuse charge is included in the monthly rates and sewerage bill. Recycling is still not common practice although it is worth making the effort to separate out recyclables and taking them to a nearby facility for processing.
Security
