Energy department cagey on rebate plans

Solar panels peqaking from rooftops of a new complex in Eastbank Alexandra Township , this new solar sysytems could be the answer to high electricity bills and the power prices is dew for an increase. Picture: Mujahid Safodien 29 06 25011

Solar panels peqaking from rooftops of a new complex in Eastbank Alexandra Township , this new solar sysytems could be the answer to high electricity bills and the power prices is dew for an increase. Picture: Mujahid Safodien 29 06 25011

Published Jan 14, 2015

Share

Cape Town - The Department of Energy says it will release details of how it will run the solar water heater rebate programme only towards the end of the month.

This comes after the industry appealed to the energy department for “information and communication” about how the department was to run the programme, which Eskom is to hand over to the department on January 31.

The industry said in a letter to the department that information was “desperately needed to restore confidence and a period of calm” in the solar water heater installation industry.

The industry fears that there will be a gap between Eskom’s ceasing to implement the programme and the Energy Department taking over, which they say could lead to job losses and company closures.

The Sustainable Energy Society of SA wrote to the energy department on Friday, appealing for details of the handover and for a three-month phase-out period from Eskom, with no reply.

The Cape Times asked the department if it would consider the industry’s request and whether the department would make any changes to the programme.

“The department will release the details about the solar water heater programme transition process from Eskom to the department once all the details have been finalised towards the end of this month,” said Energy Department’s spokesman Johannes Mokobane.

Valerie Morris, a solar water heater installer in Fish Hoek, said: “This is the first time we’ve heard anything from Energy. It’s better than nothing and we can all live in hope.”

DA spokesman on energy Lance Greyling said on Tuesday he would write to Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to confirm that her department had plans in place to ensure a smooth transition of the programme from Eskom to the department.

Greyling said Eskom’s handing over the solar water programme to the department must not be allowed to affect the industry negatively.

“We need a proper government plan for solar water heaters that can urgently reduce demand to the grid and provide certainty to the industry, so that it can flourish and provide much needed jobs.”

The government’s energy-saving target required 10 000GW hours to be replaced by power from renewable sources. The energy department believed 23 percent could be achieved by solar water heating.

Members of the public wanting to make use of the solar water heater rebate programme while it is with Eskom, will have to have their heaters installed by the end of the month.

Cape Times

Related Topics: