"Cheaper than charcoal" only means something with numbers attached. SESCOM has measured the actual electricity used and the actual TZS cost to cook common Tanzanian dishes on its 6 L and 8 L Electric Pressure Cookers, then compared the same plate of beans across five different stoves. This article publishes the full data set.
The same plate of beans, five different cookers
Cooking maharage — one of Tanzania's most common staples — on:
- Jiko Sanifu la Mkaa (improved charcoal stove): ~TZS 1,140
- Jiko la Mafuta ya Taa (kerosene stove): ~TZS 600
- Jiko la Gesi (LPG / gas stove): ~TZS 800
- Jiko la Umeme la Kawaida (conventional electric stove): ~TZS 680
- SESCOM EPC (Jiko la Umeme Lenye Presha — JULEP): ~TZS 150
That is more than a 7× saving versus charcoal, every time the pot is cooked. For a household that cooks beans daily, the saving compounds to roughly TZS 30,000 a month — enough to pay back the EPC purchase price within 6–12 months.
What the SESCOM 6 L EPC cooks — per dish, per shilling
Six common Tanzanian dishes, with cooking time, electricity used (kWh), and total cost in TZS:
| Dish | Quantity | Time | kWh | Cost (TZS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilau | 1 kg rice | 45 min | 0.716 | 251 |
| Ndizi nyama | 1 kg meat | 30 min | 0.214 | 75 |
| Ugali | 1 kg maize flour | 30 min | 0.559 | 209.6 |
| Maharage | ½ kg beans | 45 min | 0.415 | 146 |
| Makande | 1 kg maize | 60 min | 0.548 | 202 |
| Chipsi | 4 large potatoes | 20 min | 0.349 | 124 |
Even the longest cook on the list (makande, 60 minutes) costs the equivalent of a single bus fare. A complete pilau dinner costs less than TZS 260.
What the SESCOM 8 L Digital EPC cooks
The 8 L digital model is sized for larger households, restaurants, schools, and small institutions:
| Dish | Quantity | Time | kWh | Cost (TZS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilau | 1 kg rice | 45 min | 0.720 | 257 |
| Chipsi | 4 large potatoes | 20 min | 0.375 | 134 |
| Skonsi | 0.5 kg flour | 40 min | 0.207 | 74 |
| Maharage | 2 kg beans | 85 min | 0.873 | 312 |
| Makande | 1 kg maize | 60 min | 0.409 | 147 |
| Viazi vitamu | 4 large sweet potatoes | 15 min | 0.269 | 97 |
Note the 8 L cooking 2 kg of beans for TZS 312 — barely a quarter of what one pot on charcoal would cost, and feeds a household of 8+.
Why the EPC is so much cheaper
Three factors compound:
- Pressure cooks faster. Beans that take 3–4 hours on charcoal finish in 45–85 minutes inside an EPC.
- Sealed system → no heat loss. Every kilojoule goes into the food, not into the kitchen air.
- Tanzanian grid electricity is cheaper than charcoal per useful joule when you factor in the EPC's efficiency (80.3% on the 6 L, 92% on the 8 L).
How to calculate your own household savings
Multiply the dishes you cook each week by the cost numbers above. Compare to what you currently spend on charcoal, kerosene, gas, or a conventional electric stove for the same menu. The difference is the monthly saving you would unlock by switching.
Most Tanzanian households who switch to a SESCOM EPC report the appliance pays for itself within 6 to 12 months. After that, every month is pure saving — while the cooking experience is faster, smoke-free, and safer than the alternative.
Want to switch?
The 6 L EPC fits 4–6 person households and the 8 L Digital EPC handles larger families and small institutions. Both are stocked at our three regional business centres in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Dodoma, and available through our 270+ sales-agent network nationwide. Group financing through VICOBA / SACCOS removes the upfront cost barrier; TANESCO on-bill financing lets you pay through your LUKU bill.
Tap the WhatsApp button anywhere on the site to talk to our team about the model that fits your kitchen.