Does an Electric Fence Use a Lot of Electricity in South Africa?

Most South Africans keep a close eye on their electricity bill these days. Between load shedding and rising tariffs, it’s normal to question anything that runs 24/7. Electric fences get singled out often, but do they really use that much power?

Let’s break it down properly, real usage, real costs, and what it actually means for your monthly Eskom bill.

How an Electric Fence Uses Electricity

An electric fence doesn’t draw power constantly. The energiser sends quick bursts down the wires, then basically sits idle until the next pulse. The energiser uses very little power between pulses.

Does an Electric Fence Use a Lot of Electricity?

No. Most residential electric fences use between 2 and 8 watts per hour. That’s less than a standard LED bulb and usually costs under R30 per month.

Typical Usage

• Low-end energiser: ±2W
• Mid-range energiser: ±4–6W
• Larger systems: ±8W

What Affects Electricity Usage

• Fence length
• Poor insulation or vegetation contact
• Energiser quality

Load Shedding and Electric Fences

Most systems run on backup batteries during load shedding, meaning grid power usage doesn’t increase.

Electric Fence vs Other Security Systems

An electric fence uses far less electricity than systems like CCTV or a gate motor. It’s common to pair fencing with a gate motor and an alarm without seeing a noticeable jump in power usage.

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Electric Fencing

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Final Verdict

An electric fence is one of the most power-efficient security options used in South Africa. It delivers strong deterrence with minimal impact on your electricity bill.