Numbers mean more than claims. So let's start with the numbers.
As of today, OptiRate has analysed 5,549 South African business utility accounts. Across those accounts, the platform has identified:
- R 39,662,305 in savings opportunities — suboptimal tariff classifications, inefficiencies, and recoverable overcharges
- R 43,974,771 in billing errors — money incorrectly charged that needed to be recovered
What types of errors are we finding?
Incorrect tariff classification is the biggest category by rand value. A business billed at a higher tariff tier than it should qualify for overpays significantly every month — invisibly.
Meter reading errors are the most frequent by volume — estimated readings that don't match actual consumption, failed meter replacements, smart meter data transmission failures.
Demand charge anomalies are particularly costly for industrial accounts on TOU tariffs. A single abnormal demand spike can set the demand charge for the entire month.
Water and sewerage errors compound — an incorrect water reading creates a double error in both the water and sewerage charges.
What does this mean for unchecked businesses?
If the pattern holds — and across 5,549 accounts it has held consistently — 1 in 5 businesses being reviewed for the first time will contain at least one material billing error. 1 in 4 will be on a suboptimal tariff. The only question is how long it continues before someone checks.
Book your free utility account audit at optirate.io.
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