Zubeida Gallie

An Application of Household Net Metering in South Africa: a Means of Alleviating the Current Energy Crisis and Reducing the Consumers' Electricity Bill Zubeida Gallie

South Africa is faced with severe electricity shortfalls whilst being considered as one of the world's highest emitters of green house gases. Additionally the cost of electricity is rapidly rising while unemployment is on the increase and household incomes are reduced. The country is endowed with abundant sunshine, which could be used to alleviate some of the challenges. This book describes how a consumer generating electricity using a photovoltaic system can push back excess electricity into the utility grid and distribute this energy to areas that are in demand hence reducing the pressure of load demand. Thomas Edison, once said: "I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait 'til oil and coal run out before we tackle that." Gathering that this quote was a realization of a bona fide inventor approximately 79 years ago; South Africa has the available resources that will allow for exploitation of solar energy. This book ventures into: definition of net metering;the current situations of South Africa while simulating a proposed system that displays a definite decrease to the consumers' electricity bill.