How can we solve the power problem?

I've been thinking about the electricity problem, and as far as I can tell the situation that we find ourselves in boils down to two basic things:

1. Eskom don’t have enough capital to expand capacity, and
2. Consumers are using electricity wastefully

I think I’ve come up with a solution that addresses both problems; It involves solar geysers – but a better plan than the current rebate system.

1. Scrap the current solar geyser rebate system; it doesn’t work*
2. Allow Eskom to increase the tariff per kw/h, but
3. If you have a solar geyser you get a reduced tariff per kw/h

This will encourage business and home owners to go out and buy solar geysers because they want to benefit the lower electricity tariff. It will also reduce the strain on the existing grid because less people will be heating water using the power grid. The reduced strain on the grid will reduce the pressure on Eskom to rapidly expand the power grid which will reduce the cost.

A self reinforcing loop.

The selling point could be that if you do get a solar geyser, not only will you be using less electricity, the amount you pay for the running your other appliances will be less. A double whammy reduction on your bill.

If we believe the stats that a solar geyser reduces your electric bill by 40-50% then this plan could work.

* I recently had a solar geyser installed by a registered supplier (Teljoy solar). The way it seems to work is that all the suppliers quote you on the actual geyser and the installation. What they don’t tell you is that if you want to get the rebate, you have to have a Eskom approved electrician come and install an Eskom approved timer. The cost of this comes in just over the rebate; so it actually costs you a little extra to qualify for the rebate. (Just to be clear, it’s important that you do get a timer installed, as it greatly improves the effectiveness of the solar geyser. Luckily I already had one installed on my regular electric geyser)