Woensdag, 7 Mei 2014 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: [email protected]| www.tygerburger.co.za BELLVILLE REBATES: ELECTRICITY GIANT REVIEWS SOLAR WATER HEATER SUBSIDIES Eskom cuts discounts MICHELLE LINNERT @linnertmb E lectrical geysers may continue to guzz- le up some 60% of households’ electrici- ty supply as incentives initiated by Es- kom to subsidise solar water heaters have been cancelled. The energy supply giant said it has placed its Load Reduction Rebate Programme un- der review, meaning rebates worth thou- sands of rands available to households wis- hing to utilise solar power for water heating will be severly curbed. A leading solar products company has sin- ce drawn up a petition against the energy gi- ant’s decision to cut rebates. “In a surprise move, Eskom has termina- ted the current solar rebate programme, ef- fective from 1 May, with minimal notice to the public, industry and other stakehol- ders,” said Klint Munton, owner of SunScan Solar Energy Technologies. Rebate reversal “This means that all Eskom solar rebates will fall away, in stark contrast to their pu- blic image of endorsing, supporting and sub- sidising more energy-efficient ways of hea- ting water and in turn, saving electricity,” Munton said. “Eskom’s major campaigns, which have cost millions, warn us to cut back on our usa- ge and urge us to turn off pool pumps, gey- sers and non-essential appliances. “Despite this, electricity demand still ex- ceeds supply during peak periods, and now Eskom are pulling the plug on their endea- vor to save power by their subsidising ener- gy-aware consumers who install power-sa- ving water heaters and geysers,” Munton said. “The question remains, that with an elec- tricity grid under severe strain, how is it possible that a programme such as the Load Reduction Rebate Programme can be discon- tinued?” The City of Cape Town, a major Eskom customer, said the rebate cuts only applied to high-pressure solar geysers, and then on- ly if the components used in the making of these geysers have not been locally manufac- tured. “There are new requirements around re- bates and high-pressue systems, being that rebates will only apply where production in- cludes 70% locally produced components,” said Sarah Ward, head of the city’s energy department. On hold Ward said there had been little movement regarding the low-pressure systems mostly used in low-cost housing schemes. “The national low-pressure solar water heating programme is on hold. It has been for the past two-and-a-half years,” she said. This is in line with Eskom’s response. The energy giant said the rebates were not cut completely, but are taking a different tack. V To page 2. Bok Radio se “Bokspan” het die “Sangers” Sondag by die Hoërskool D.F. Malan op die krieketveld aange- durf. Altesame R35 000 is ten bate van die Alta du Toit-nasorgsen- trum ingesamel. Hier is die twee spanne met die tjek, wat aan Lelani Vermaak, bemarker van die nasorgsen- trum, oorhandig is. FOTO: CARINA ROUX Kolwe klap vir sentrum
