Removing yourself from the Power grid?

[Pitbull]

Hi Guys,

I have a question. Is there any law or article that prevents an individual who is currently on the Power grid to be 100% self-providing and have himself removed from the power grid?.

What I mean is this:

If I have solar panels and a generator (For emergency use) can I go to the the offices and have myself be removed from their billing system and have my power supply be removed/cut or what ever?

Same goes for the water if you have a Borehole.

All this in relation to subburb areas. Not so much farms as they can self provide I'm sure.

 

[Keeper]

why would it be illegal to live in a house like that?

what about shacks?

 

[rorz0r]

Why disconnect it, just don't use it. Or switch elec to prepaid and just don't buy any. As far as I know there are no "subscription" fees, only usage. Maybe they will be like telkom and start charging you for the line and usage in future.

 

[Pitbull]

why would it be illegal to live in a house like that?

what about shacks?

No just checking to make sure I don't trample on any toes

Now I can self provide my house for lets say R 50k right. Now it is a big chunk of change but with another 50% increase on the cards for next year, I'll be looking at paying about R 1200 a month just for water and Lights.

That means the self provisioning would pay off itself in just 41 - 42 months.

Meaning in 5 years from now I will only have to pay maintenance on my system when needed and would be completely independent when it comes to power.

Now imagine 500 house holds doing the same

 

[dj_jyno]

I'm sure it's perfectly legal. It would be easier, though, to integrate the grid power into the solar system - saves your generator's fuel when the solar storage doesn't have enough power. Also gives you peace of mind, since you won't run out of fuel unexpectedly.

EDIT: Pitbull, the system will be closer to R120k if it's for a 4-person household in a medium-sized house. Did the calculations about a year ago, so it might have reduced in price by now.

 

[Pitbull]

I'm sure it's perfectly legal. It would be easier, though, to integrate the grid power into the solar system - saves your generator's fuel when the solar storage doesn't have enough power. Also gives you peace of mind, since you won't run out of fuel unexpectedly.

True.

But I want a fail safe system. Having to depend on Eskom for even just one night will not be good enough. I'd rather have a diesel generator of which I will prob only need once or twice a year. I would love to give Eskom the finger completely tbh. However you have a pretty good point as Grid would prob be less than having to run a generator if/when needed.

 

[davemc]

As far as I know you can provide for yourself, but you may not compete with Eskom by providing for others.

But, to hell with whatever the regulations do or don't say, take it all the way to constitutional court, electricity service delivery is not supposed to be yet another form of tax, which is what it has become.

 

[dj_jyno]

True.

But I want a fail safe system. Having to depend on Eskom for even just one night will not be good enough. I'd rather have a diesel generator of which I will prob only need once or twice a year. I would love to give Eskom the finger completely tbh. However you have a pretty good point as Grid would prob be less than having to run a generator if/when needed.

In actual fact, you can have both systems as backup for your solar system. It just depends on how much redundancy you need.

 

[Pitbull]

I'm sure it's perfectly legal. It would be easier, though, to integrate the grid power into the solar system - saves your generator's fuel when the solar storage doesn't have enough power. Also gives you peace of mind, since you won't run out of fuel unexpectedly.

EDIT: Pitbull, the system will be closer to R120k if it's for a 4-person household in a medium-sized house. Did the calculations about a year ago, so it might have reduced in price by now.

I had a look at importing the panels. Which is roughly 60% cheaper if imported in bulk. So I'll have to share costs with a few mates

 

[Mercurious]

Hi, can you please share your calculations along with your source for prices. This is interesting.

 

[BCO]

Based on some back-of-a-napkin calcs I did a year or two ago it's more like R750k if you want to get EVERYTHING off the grid (i.e. stove, heaters, fridge, pool filter, geyser etc). I have a little investment policy that will mature in a couple of years' time and be worth about R65k. For that amount I will be able to get my lighting, 2 gaming pcs, TV, PS3 etc off grid. I have piped gas, and a SWH so the stove and most of my water heating is off grid already. Will basically just have the kitchen that requires Eskom power.

Hopefully SA will implement a home co-generation policy at some point, where they would actually pay you for any excess electrcity you put back into the grid.

 

[eddief1]

Funny thing is where i stay they don't want to give us prepaid meters, even if i totally self provide i will still have to pay the availability charge, which in our block of flats is around R400.00 and we use only around R100 usage. Anyway for me to get a prepaid meter ?

 

[czc]

Do you know that Eskom wants to charge R300 000 to feed into their grid?

 

[xrapidx]

I plan on being as Eskom independent as soon as I move... so will also be looking into solar soon...

 

[Pitbull]

Geyser run on its own system

10 x 12w globes = 120w
1x TV = 250w
1x Fridge = 250w

some odds and ends not in the equation as this was done roughly but I'll need 1000w at any given time more or less. So let’s say 1500w inverter is needed.

Stove runs on gas.

120w x 10 hours = 1200w
TV x 6 hours = 1500w
Fridge x 24 = 6000w

Daily usage = 8700w
They said I must add a buffer of 20% (1740w)

So I need to provide for 10440w per day.

Charge hours I took at 6 hours.

10440/6 = 1740w needed

1740w/75w panels = 24 panels needed

75w panels produce 4.4amps 24x4.4 = 105.6 Amps per hour x 6 hours (633.6 amps)
105ah batteries with a discharge of 50% = 52.5 AH

633.6/52.5 = 12.07 (Make that 13 x 105AH batteries)

1 x 20A regulator per 3 panels = 8 regulators.

This was a rough estimate I did yesterday. I think I might need little more but this was just a quick calculation based on a calculation I saw online.


*I'll hold back on the supplier for the time being

 

[etwylite]

IPP pricing

Its best to wait for IPP (independant power producer)pricing policy from eskom. This is rate eskom will buy power into its grid. ie your excess daytime solar production runs your meter in reverse for credit and then you draw down against the credit at night when consuming not produicing. This is the most viable home alternative as it negates the huge cost of storage (batteries etc.)

 

[BCO]

Geyser run on its own system

10 x 12w globes = 120w
1x TV = 250w
1x Fridge = 250w

some odds and ends not in the equation as this was done roughly but I'll need 1000w at any given time more or less. So let’s say 1500w inverter is needed.

Stove runs on gas.

120w x 10 hours = 1200w
TV x 6 hours = 1500w
Fridge x 24 = 6000w

Daily usage = 8700w
They said I must add a buffer of 20% (1740w)

So I need to provide for 10440w per day.

Charge hours I took at 6 hours.

10440/6 = 1740w needed

1740w/75w panels = 24 panels needed

75w panels produce 4.4amps 24x4.4 = 105.6 Amps per hour x 6 hours (633.6 amps)
105ah batteries with a discharge of 50% = 52.5 AH

633.6/52.5 = 12.07 (Make that 13 x 105AH batteries)

1 x 20A regulator per 3 panels = 8 regulators.

This was a rough estimate I did yesterday. I think I might need little more but this was just a quick calculation based on a calculation I saw online.


*I'll hold back on the supplier for the time being

Seems like a decent design. 2 points worth considering though. It might be worth considering basing your calculations on around 4 hours of sunlight rather than 6. This way the system will work as intended during cloudy spells. Also, perhaps a 33% discharge rather than a 50% discharge will allow for longer battery lifetimes. Of course, both those factors increase your costs.

Oh yes, one more thing you might need a much bigger inverter to allow for the huge power spike every time the fridge's induction motor kicks in. Or go for a specialised solar fridge.

 

[xrapidx]

Its best to wait for IPP (independant power producer)pricing policy from eskom. This is rate eskom will buy power into its grid. ie your excess daytime solar production runs your meter in reverse for credit and then you draw down against the credit at night when consuming not produicing. This is the most viable home alternative as it negates the huge cost of storage (batteries etc.)

Only problem is Eskom actually getting it right - South Africa isn't big on supporting the consumer, corporates here would much rather screw you and make it your problem... by the time they've ironed out the problems, it'll be 2020, and any self-provisioning would have paid it self off ages ago.

 

[Pitbull]

Seems like a decent design. 2 points worth considering though. It might be worth considering basing your calculations on around 4 hours of sunlight rather than 6. This way the system will work as intended during cloudy spells. Also, perhaps a 33% discharge rather than a 50% discharge will allow for longer battery lifetimes. Of course, both those factors increase your costs.

Oh yes, one more thing you might need a much bigger inverter to allow for the huge power spike every time the fridge's induction motor kicks in. Or go for a specialised solar fridge.

I was thinking of getting a gass fridge also but this Solar fridge thing I have never heard of Might be another option. Thanks for the input I'll take that into consideration tonight and I'll redo the calculations again.

 

[Pitbull]

Its best to wait for IPP (independant power producer)pricing policy from eskom. This is rate eskom will buy power into its grid. ie your excess daytime solar production runs your meter in reverse for credit and then you draw down against the credit at night when consuming not produicing. This is the most viable home alternative as it negates the huge cost of storage (batteries etc.)

Fk eskom, I won't give then a cent. No matter what they plan on doing with it. They will have a way of screwing me out of my own power eventually. maybe credit me less and charge more or something. They are driving on Profit. And this will only be done to favour them.