Shift + Save calculator

See what solar saves you, and what it costs per month

Three quick steps: your bill, your system, how you’ll pay. You get an estimate of your monthly saving, your Shift + Save potential, a repayment and your payback period.

1

Your electricity

R
Use a typical month, including fixed charges.
Fine-tune my tariff
R
R
Find both on your bill. The price per kWh is the energy charge; fixed charges are the basic, service or network charges you pay even at zero use.
2

Your system

R
R
Installation usually costs R10 000 to R25 000, depending on system size and your building. Your installer confirms it after a site check.
3

How you’ll pay

R
Term
5 years
Preset to prime (10.5%) + 3%. Your bank sets your actual rate.

Solar finance from the banks

Compare the banks’ own solar and home-loan options. These open on the bank’s website.

Own your home? A home-loan top-up or access bond is often cheaper than a personal loan. Ask your bank.

How we estimate

  • Paarl-area sun: about 4.6 kWh per kWp a day on average, less in winter.
  • About 35% of a home’s use happens while the sun shines; the battery covers evenings and nights.
  • Eskom Homeflex 2026/27 rates incl. VAT: winter peak R8.47, off-peak R1.91; summer peak R3.95, off-peak R1.31 per kWh.
  • Fixed charges stay on your bill. Municipal charges for solar customers vary; ask us about yours.

How Shift + Save works at home

A home battery saves you the most money when it stores cheap energy and releases it when energy is expensive. That cheap energy is your own solar during the day, or off-peak grid power at night if you are on a time-of-use tariff.

On Eskom’s Homeflex time-of-use tariff for 2026/27, a unit of electricity in the winter peak costs about R8.47. The same unit at off-peak costs about R1.91. With NERSA-approved increases of 8.76% this year and 8.83% next year, energy you produce and store yourself keeps getting more valuable.

  1. Generate. Your panels produce most of their power between about 09:00 and 16:00.
  2. Use it directly. Run the geyser, pool pump, washing machine and dishwasher off the sun.
  3. Store the surplus. Whatever you don’t use charges your battery.
  4. Shift. In the evening peak, your home runs from the battery instead of the grid.
  5. Top up cheaply. On time-of-use, the battery can charge from off-peak power on cloudy days.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be on Homeflex to benefit?

No. Solar and a battery save on any tariff. On a flat or municipal block tariff, the battery saves by storing your own solar for the evening and keeps the lights on during outages. Time-of-use adds a second way to save.

Can a Tesla Powerwall do this?

Yes. Powerwall 3 can charge and discharge around your tariff’s peak and off-peak hours.

How big a battery do I need?

Enough to cover your evening and night use, typically 10 to 20 kWh for a family home. Try different sizes in the calculator to see the trade-off.

Is finance available through Elevate Solar?

We’re not a credit provider. We’ll give you a full quote to take to your bank. For homeowners, a home-loan top-up or access bond is often cheaper than a personal loan.

How accurate is the estimate?

It’s a guide, not a quote. Your roof, your usage and your municipality’s charges change the numbers. Send us your results on WhatsApp and we’ll size a system properly.