GreenSun Renewable Energy, a leader in renewable energy solutions for over 13 years, is excited to introduce EnergyEase, a groundbreaking Energy-as-a-Service offering designed for South African homeowners. This innovative solution allows users to address escalating municipal rates by purchasing the energy produced by their system at a lower cost than local municipal electricity rates.
With EnergyEase, GreenSun installs and owns all necessary solar equipment including panels, inverters, batteries and smart meters. Homeowners purchase the generated solar power through a smart meter and app-based wallet system at a lower price than from the local municipality. Initially, each kWh will be slightly cheaper than municipal electricity, but over time, as GreenSun’s rates increase at a slower pace than Eskom’s, the savings will grow significantly.
This launch is timely for South African homeowners facing steep increases in prepaid and post-paid electricity bills. As of April 2024, recent Eskom price hikes, approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), have led to an 18.65% increase for 2023/24, followed by an additional 12.74% rise for 2024/25.
Despite these increases, Eskom continues to grapple with reliability issues, and energy experts predict that load shedding will persist. Since load shedding started in 2008, electricity prices have skyrocketed by 450%, far exceeding the 98% inflation rate over the same period. This means that tariff hikes have more than quadrupled the rate of headline inflation outpacing it by 352%.
EnergyEase represents South Africa’s first,true residential power purchase agreement, transforming the way energy consumption is approached. Homeowners benefit from lower energy rates and increased reliability, paying only for the energy generated and stored by their system rather than fixed monthly costs, making it a more economical choice compared to the current rate of R4.73 per kWh at the City of Cape Town for instance.
The system is equipped to handle high summer energy demands, such as powering air conditioners and pumps, while also offering cost savings during winter when energy production is lower. GreenSun’s backup system ensures comprehensive home connectivity, unlike traditional systems that support only basic lighting and plug points.
EnergyEase features advanced smart metering technology for remote energy management and monitoring. Daily consumption is reconciled and credited, with the convenience of topping up your smart wallet through various payment methods.
Addressing the challenge of frequent load shedding, EnergyEase provides a reliable power source, ensuring that essential appliances remain operational even during outages. This backup power solution offers security and peace of mind to homeowners.
“We are thrilled to introduce EnergyEase to the South African market,” said Xavier Louw, Director of Operations at GreenSun Renewable Energy. “Our aim is to offer a cost-effective, sustainable energy solution that eases the financial burden on homeowners while providing access to reliable and clean energy without upfront costs.”
Benefits of EnergyEase:
- Energy independence: Reliable power during load shedding and outages.
- Significant savings: Lower kWh cost without being tied into a fixed rental monthly fee.
- Environmental impact: Reduced carbon footprint and commitment to sustainable energy.
EnergyEase is ideal for homeowners with monthly electricity bills of R2 500 or more, who seek to reduce costs and ensure a stable power supply.
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