Ruraflex and Landrate: how solar cuts farm electricity bills

Last updated November 2026. Tariffs checked November 2026, from Eskom's 2026/27 tariff book (effective 1 April 2026).

Most farms buy electricity directly from Eskom on one of its rural tariffs, usually Landrate or Ruraflex. The bill can look like a wall of line items, and that makes it hard to judge what solar will actually save. This guide explains what each part of a farm tariff charges for, which parts solar reduces and which it can't, and how to read your own bill before you talk to an installer. For the bigger picture on pumps, cold rooms and theft, see our main guide to solar for farms.

How do Eskom's farm tariffs affect the case for solar?

The tariff matters because solar only saves you the charges that rise and fall with the units you buy. Fixed and capacity charges stay the same. The more of your bill that sits in per-kWh charges, the stronger the case for solar.

Your bill names the tariff you're on. If it isn't clear, Eskom can confirm it from your account number.

What does Landrate charge, and what can solar cut?

These are Eskom's 2026/27 Landrate 1 to 3 charges, including VAT:

So every unit of solar a Landrate farm uses saves about R3.57 including VAT. The daily charges, about R113 a day or R3,400 a month on Landrate 1, stay whatever the panels do. Landrate 4 has a higher energy rate of 458.64c a unit including VAT, which makes solar even more attractive.

What does Ruraflex charge, and what can solar cut?

Ruraflex prices energy by time of day and season. On weekdays there's a two-hour morning peak and a three-hour evening peak. Most daylight hours fall in the standard period. These are the 2026/27 energy rates for a supply within 300 km of Johannesburg at under 500 V, including VAT:

On top of the energy rate, every unit also carries a legacy charge (28.76c), a network demand charge (60.43c) and an ancillary charge (0.52c), about 89.7c in all. Solar avoids those too. So a solar unit used in the daytime standard period saves about R2.90 to R3.04 including VAT, and one used in the morning peak saves far more.

What solar can't cut on Ruraflex: the network capacity charge (R65.09 per kVA a month) and generation capacity charge (R5.83 per kVA a month), both based on your supply size, and the daily service and administration charges. Rates differ by distance from Johannesburg and supply voltage, so use the figures on your own bill.

What does a worked example look like?

A Ruraflex farm installs 50 kWp of panels on its packshed roof. Most of the farm's daytime load is cold rooms, a workshop and pumps.

Each April's tariff increase makes those units worth more. Eskom's direct tariffs went up by about 8.8% in April 2026, and a further increase is approved for April 2027.

When should a farm add batteries?

On Landrate, a unit costs the same at any time of day, so a battery only saves money by storing solar you would otherwise waste. It rarely pays for itself on savings alone. It's worth it for backup, for evening loads, or for cutting generator use.

On Ruraflex, the evening peak changes the maths. From June to August, an evening peak unit costs more than R9 including all per-unit charges, roughly three times a standard unit. A battery charged from midday solar and used through the evening peak avoids the most expensive units on the bill. Even so, a battery used only for peak shifting for three hours on weekdays often takes a long time to pay back. It works best where the farm also needs backup, runs a big evening load such as a dairy or irrigation, or wants to cut diesel.

How should you read your bill before talking to installers?

1. Note your tariff name, supply size in kVA and supply voltage.
2. Add up the per-kWh charges and divide by the units used. That's the value of each unit solar replaces.
3. On Ruraflex, note how many units fall in each period, and how this changes between summer and winter.
4. Total the fixed and capacity charges separately. Those stay.
5. Gather 12 months of bills and your diesel use, and send the same pack to each installer.

If pumping is one of your biggest loads, a stand-alone solar pump may be cheaper than running it through the main system. Our guide to solar borehole and irrigation pumps explains the sizing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ruraflex time-of-use?

Yes. Ruraflex charges different energy rates in peak, standard and off-peak periods, and the peak rate in June to August is much higher than the rest of the year. Landrate is a flat rate at any time of day.

Can solar reduce fixed charges?

No. Network capacity, generation capacity, service and administration charges are based on your supply size or charged per day. They stay the same whatever your panels produce.

When should a farm add batteries?

When it needs backup, runs significant evening loads, wants to cut generator diesel, or is on Ruraflex with heavy use in the winter evening peak. On Landrate, batteries rarely pay back on bill savings alone.

Where We Fit In

Sources: Eskom tariff booklet 2026/27; Eskom on the 2026/27 tariff decision.