Eskom to charge solar users in South Africa to remain connected to the grid

Daniel Puchert

Daniel Puchert

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Dark clouds gather over solar power users in South Africa

Eskom has confirmed that it intends to charge solar power users in South Africa to remain connected to the national grid.

This is one of several proposed structural changes to its retail tariffs, which the power utility has explained are necessary for its future sustainability.
 
"Eskom Battery"? Dafuq.

Why the need for an additional charge.?

No Solar/Dead Battery = Use Eskom like everyone else.
Usable Solar/Full Battery = No Eskom
 
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LCBXX said:
"Eskom Battery"? Dafuq.

Why the need for an additional charge.?

No Solar/Dead Battery = Use Eskom like everyone else.
Usable Solar/Full Battery = No Eskom
Click to expand...
Yeah that doesn't work for them.
 
LCBXX said:
Why the need for an additional charge.?

No Solar/Dead Battery = Use Eskom like everyone else.
Usable Solar/Full Battery = No Eskom
Click to expand...
Preparation for the distribution/generation split.

It costs money to maintain the distribution grid. If you're just paying for usage then you're obviously not adequately contributing to the maintenance of the distribution grid you need to use to supplement the solar during bad weather.

Pricing is going to be out of whack because it's Eskom and they'll just use it as an excuse to sneak in another increase, but the principle of being charged a fixed connection fee covering grid maintenance is perfectly logical.

Article is misleading though, it's not about just solar users. It's a pricing structure change.
 
porchrat said:
Preparation for the distribution/generation split.

It costs money to maintain the distribution grid. If you're just paying for usage then you're obviously not adequately contributing to the maintenance of the distribution grid you need to use to supplement the solar during bad weather.

Pricing is going to be out of whack because it's Eskom and they'll just use it as an excuse to sneak in another increase, but the principle of being charged a fixed connection fee covering grid maintenance is perfectly logical.

Article is misleading though, it's not about just solar users. It's a pricing structure change.
Click to expand...
Not sure about prepaid but postpaid already attracts all kinds of charges (Network, etc). It's impossible to pay less than R750pm on postpaid, even with 0kW/h usage.
 
LCBXX said:
Not sure about prepaid but postpaid already attracts all kinds of charges (Network, etc). It's impossible to pay less than R750pm on postpaid, even with 0kW/h usage.
Click to expand...
A network charge from your municipality... which isn't Eskom.

This is about people being billed directly by Eskom as their electricity supplier.

It impacts people like me on Eskom direct. I'm on prepaid. I pay no network charges currently.
 
LCBXX said:
Not sure about prepaid but postpaid already attracts all kinds of charges (Network, etc). It's impossible to pay less than R750pm on postpaid, even with 0kW/h usage.
Click to expand...
If this happens at municipal level they may as well disconnect me.

Would be cheaper to buy a generator to charge batteries on cloudy days. That said, today has been quite cloudy in my area and solar panels generated enough to run essentials in the house and charge batteries for tonight.

Eskom and government can quite literally fck off. Borehole and filtration system for water, and private refuse removal. Used a private plumber just last week to unblock municipal sewerage line that has a man hole in my yard.

Municipal rates and taxes account is as much free money as I'll pay these p03se against my will.
 
"On average, 400kWh consumers pay a bill of around R1,178 per month. With Eskom’s proposed changes, their bills would increase by 25% to R1,476."

You can like to be po*smal, bra!

This is the best part:
“The electricity supply industry is undergoing fundamental changes that will set the course for economic growth and prosperity in the years ahead,” said Bala.
 
Drone 42 said:
All solar users should switch off their solar for a month or so in protest if this is implemented, bring back load shedding instantly. Let's see how that then goes for Eskom.
Click to expand...

They'll just double down on this idea.

Because now, if if they're load-shedding in their moer in, you'll just be charged basically the same 'cause you're still connected to the grid, whether it's working or not.

It's f**ing ludicrous.
 
porchrat said:
A network charge from your municipality... which isn't Eskom.

This is about people being billed directly by Eskom as their electricity supplier.

It impacts people like me on Eskom direct. I'm on prepaid. I pay no network charges currently.
Click to expand...
I'm on Eskom direct and they do already charge a network fee on postpaid accounts. Extract from my most recent bill below, amounts are ex VAT, so it comes to about R750 per month for the privilege of having a connection.

I was also required to pay a "deposit" of R18k when transferring the account to my name 2 years ago. Previous owner is still struggling to get his "deposit" back.



7706e72fbb1015f0f6a8b380603640ed.jpg
 
This is all ESKOMS fault.
Cant supply we make other arrangements..

Dont sell enough electricity.
Charge us more for being resourceful.
 
Arzy said:
I'm on Eskom direct and they do already charge a network fee on postpaid accounts. Extract from my most recent bill below, amounts are ex VAT, so it comes to about R750 per month for the privilege of having a connection.

I was also required to pay a "deposit" of R18k when transferring the account to my name 2 years ago. Previous owner is still struggling to get his "deposit" back.



7706e72fbb1015f0f6a8b380603640ed.jpg
Click to expand...
Not sure what happens with people like you. I was under the impression that this was impacting people who currently don't pay a network charge.

Honestly, in principle, the network charge makes perfect sense. I'm not against the principle. I just know Eskom's going to abuse it to sneak in a significant increase.

I don't see how Eskom could ever justify applying this charge on top of current municipal network charges. Eskom isn't maintaining the distribution network... why should anyone pay them for something they don't do?

Same for people currently paying an Eskom direct network charge. They can't double charge you it's not justifiable.

I think the media has been very very poor on the reporting of this (even poorer than their reporting usually is). They make it sound like specifically solar users are going to be charged this fee because they have solar, or that every single Saffer is going to get this charge. Forget stretching the truth, that's a flat out lie. I suppose it generates clicks, but jeepers standards are slipping.
 
Arzy said:
I'm on Eskom direct and they do already charge a network fee on postpaid accounts. Extract from my most recent bill below, amounts are ex VAT, so it comes to about R750 per month for the privilege of having a connection.

I was also required to pay a "deposit" of R18k when transferring the account to my name 2 years ago. Previous owner is still struggling to get his "deposit" back.



7706e72fbb1015f0f6a8b380603640ed.jpg
Click to expand...
almost 20 bucks a day yeesh what tarrif is that - eskom has some people on home power 1 but on prepaid that has a fee like that its about R6 a day
- im like @porchrat prepaid no network fees
But out Per KW is slightly higher you pay R2.4554 we pay R2.6716
 
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