DC changeover switch

[Isetech]

This is the reason I haven't put in solar panels for my inverter setup yet. With eThekwini's pricing structure, my utility bill will go up (quite significantly) rather than go down. Seems the safe solution is to put your geyser on solar as this doesn't carry the same prohibitive penalty.

Apparently the size of the inverter will determine your "tax" or "fee" that will be added to your electricity account, not the amount of solar. At this point it is just ramble.

There is a ramble about a few other things that are likely to change in the next 5 years, it is going to put a few DIY installation in a bit of of spot. The green card is certainly not going to cut it.

Trying to sell your property without all the correct documentation and certification for your installation is also going to turn a few systems into lead weights.

I think the introduction of design certification and installation compliance should heave been introduced a long time ago.

[Isetech]

We were taking about the same thing this weekend. Do we rather fit an 8KVA unit and additional panels and only one battery, increase the thermostat temp.

The problem is you cant hide the panels, google maps if going to expose all the non registered systems. People think they are going to drive around looking for properties with panels, so they are actually trying to install them out of sight, I not joking.

It is actually a lot easier than that, the average consumption of a house is X amount, if not within a certain range, your electricity bill will be flagged as abnormal especially if you live in a upmarket area, were you can afford a solar system. Then a quick google search under maps and bingo you bust.

The big question is what will the penalty/fine be for not registering your system, the amount they lost in venue?

It is going to be interesting to see where this goes in the future.

One of the reasons I am looking into the Sunsynk unit, it could at least give you a little relief being a bi directional unit. IF you have a backup system you not only going to pay the price, loose.

[Isetech]

An average 3 bedroom house uses around 28-30 KWH per day, in area I live, the average bill is around R1500 - 2000 per month electricity only. If you have had a well designed system, replaced all your appliances and fitted LEd lights, bought a gas stove, your bill should drop to around R500. The part that will catch you, is not the drop to R500, it will be the 6 month actual reading compared to the average.

6 months = R12000.00 estimate. Actual after 6 months of the system installation, R3000.00 you dont think a little red flag is going to pop up.

Now imagine the person paying in excess of R10 000 a month, who blows R500k on a system to drastically reduce the bill, do the maths.

Nothing is free in life, someone must always pay. The more you pay the more the free loaders rely on your support

[GCE]

PE has been pretty open about where and how they want to go - Seems like NERSA is going to insist on Time of Use tariff for domestic in SA
Panels and Batteries will play and important role in reducing the cost of electricity

As you can see from the rates pasted below peak times you get hammered on the rate - You just need to move geyser etc out of peak and let the battery supply your evening usage .
The net billing ( dredit amount ) is well below what you pay

I think it is fair as the municipalities need to maintain the network and by using your excess generated they can effectively sell it on without having to buy from Eskom

NMBM Rates for
SMALL SCALE EMBEDDED GENERATION 2021/22
Total
VAT Incl.

Extra Low Voltage (ELV) Time-of-Use Tariff - 230 Volts
Basic Charge R/Month 352.84
Winter
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 5.66
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 1.91
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 1.16
Summer
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 2.03
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 1.48
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 1.04
Net Billing– Extra Low Voltage Time-of-Use Tariff
Winter
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 3.29
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 1.06
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 0.61
Summer
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 1.13
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 0.80
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 0.54

SSEG Support Charge R/month 88.22

[Isetech]

We still live in the dark ages, with old disk spinning meters. That means they will have to replace all the meters. That would be a nice contract to supply and install new meter, worth a ton of cash, if you get paid.

[Isetech]

It is going to be tricky designing the system to be cost effective.

Batteries are going to become an import component in your system.

[GCE]

The problem is you cant hide the panels, google maps if going to expose all the non registered systems. People think they are going to drive around looking for properties with panels, so they are actually trying to install them out of sight, I not joking.

.

During a discussion on the non registering of PV systems it was brought up that at the start of the drought in PE they used Google with AI software to idenitfy swimpools and dams and match to addresses and accounts - The feeling was that very little work needed to be done to use the same system to search for PV .

[GCE]

We still live in the dark ages, with old disk spinning meters. That means they will have to replace all the meters. That would be a nice contract to supply and install new meter, worth a ton of cash, if you get paid.

Should have mention earlier - PE when you register the pv system with municipality as required by NERSA , the owner gets an invoice of R 6,5K to have a 4 quadrant meter fitted.

[markthespark]

Hi Derlyn
I have an old set of lead acid batteries in operation but have bought a new AGM set which I don't want to connect together with the old set. That changeover switch which Isetech has suggested is perfect!

[Derlyn]

Hi Derlyn
I have an old set of lead acid batteries in operation but have bought a new AGM set which I don't want to connect together with the old set. That changeover switch which Isetech has suggested is perfect!

Understood, my brother.
Keep well, daar innie Kaap.

[Derlyn]

PE has been pretty open about where and how they want to go - Seems like NERSA is going to insist on Time of Use tariff for domestic in SA
Panels and Batteries will play and important role in reducing the cost of electricity

As you can see from the rates pasted below peak times you get hammered on the rate - You just need to move geyser etc out of peak and let the battery supply your evening usage .
The net billing ( dredit amount ) is well below what you pay

I think it is fair as the municipalities need to maintain the network and by using your excess generated they can effectively sell it on without having to buy from Eskom

NMBM Rates for
SMALL SCALE EMBEDDED GENERATION 2021/22
Total
VAT Incl.

Extra Low Voltage (ELV) Time-of-Use Tariff - 230 Volts
Basic Charge R/Month 352.84
Winter
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 5.66
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 1.91
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 1.16
Summer
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 2.03
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 1.48
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 1.04
Net Billing– Extra Low Voltage Time-of-Use Tariff
Winter
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 3.29
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 1.06
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 0.61
Summer
Energy Charge Peak R/kWh 1.13
Energy Charge Standard R/kWh 0.80
Energy Charge Off Peak R/kWh 0.54

SSEG Support Charge R/month 88.22

Gonna be interesting to see how they gonna get the above right.
All the meters will have to be extremely smart and I cannot see that happening before 2026/7.

[GCE]

Gonna be interesting to see how they gonna get the above right.
All the meters will have to be extremely smart and I cannot see that happening before 2026/7.

They are being and have been installed in PE for the past couple years - I had installed in 2015 when I first installed PV at the office
In PE you have a 4 quadrant meter installed and they give you access on the system to be able to check your readings daily
All operates via GSM

[Isetech]

They are being and have been installed in PE for the past couple years - I had installed in 2015 when I first installed PV at the office
In PE you have a 4 quadrant meter installed and they give you access on the system to be able to check your readings daily
All operates via GSM

Electronic metering and time of tariff usage has been around for a long time, landis and gyr were the pioneers and sometime still used in commercial and industrial applications. trying to get support from them is like dealing with a fibre serve provider

It use to be a money for jam service companies offer. They fit the meter get your reading sent to their office flip it and send it back to you at a fee, maybe throw in some power factor correction to make a few extra bucks. We were doing it back in 2004.

[Derlyn]

In our valley, we still live in the dark ages. Anyway, the dark ages are quickly returning for the whole country.