Eskom raises solar geyser subsidy for consumers

n an aggressive attempt to convince more South Africans to buy and use solar geysers, Eskom is raising the cash-back rebate offered to consumers.

Currently, an average of 20 percent of the money spent on a solar geyser is returned by Eskom to the purchaser, according to spokesman Andrew Etzinger.

Tomorrow, the electricity giant is due to announce a new, higher rebate level.

"This is in the hope of increasing uptake of solar electricity in South Africa," Etzinger said yesterday.

The rebate system has been running for two years, but has failed to elicit the desired response. In the first year, Etzinger said, about 600 transactions were recorded. Last year, the number more than doubled to 1 400.

"In terms of percentage, this is good," Etzinger said.

"But the target is to get thousands of households to install solar geysers, and we are planning to be a lot more aggressive."

The solar geyser programme is one of several that make up Eskom's demand-side management project. The aim of the various measures is to lower electricity demand by the public. Eskom has recently announced huge hikes in electricity costs during the next three years.

Solar geysers, however, are "definitely a winner", Etzinger said, and had the potential to shave 70 percent off a geyser's electricity consumption.

Solar geysers use electricity to power a back-up system for overcast days.

The industry has wasted no time to market Eskom's decision.

Solahart, one of the industry's big players, calculated that the new rebate could have increased from almost R5 000 to R12 000. This is based on a 300-litre geyser that retails for about R33 500, said Kristia van Heerden on behalf of Solahart.

"We have long been calling for a larger rebate," said Jim Hickey, managing director of Selected Energy (supplier of Solahart products).

"In the solar water-heating industry, larger rebates are the most effective way of improving the uptake of solar water heaters. We believe that this step will go a long way in relieving some of the supply pressures Eskom has been experiencing."

People considering buying a solar geyser need to do research and find a registered supplier. Van Heerden said Eskom generally made payments within two weeks of purchase.

For more information, visit www.eskomdsm.co.za

The Star

Posted at 08:35AM Jan 13, 2010 by Editor in Residential  |  Comments[19]