Rebate reduction imminent
According to sources within Eskom the current Eskom rebate is set to decrease for the first time within the first quarter of next 2011.
In January 2010 Eskom's solar water heating programme manager Cerdric Worthmann announced a significant increase in Eskom's rebate amount. In a memorandum distributed to Eskom's demand side management (DSM) participants, Worthmann stated that the rebate will be "decreased annually in accordance with electricity tariff increases".
According to the memorandum the "decrease will be calculated according to Eskom electricity increases each year, and each year a communication with the new rebate amount will be communicated to all participants."
While Eskom is yet to release an official statement on the rebate reduction, Selected Energy managing director Jim Hickey advises consumers who wish to take advantage of the current rebate amount to invest in a solar water heater before the end of the year.
"I have it on good authority that the rebate amount will be decreased early next year. The industry is also abuzz with rumours that a new bylaw will make solar water heaters compulsory on new buildings from next year," said Hickey.
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SABS and solar water heaters
According to Eskom solar water heating programme manager Cedric Worthmann, three solar water heating suppliers have been removed from the Eskom demand side management (DSM) programme because they don't meet the SABS requirements.
"Many companies on the DSM programme have SABS approval, but don't have the SABS mark. What most consumers don't understand is that the SABS approval is merely a step towards receiving the SABS mark," explained Selected Energy general manager Jim Hickey.
Solahart systems were the first solar water heaters on the South African market to receive the SABS mark. Obtaining the mark involved a weeklong audit of the Solahart factory in Australia.
"During the audit, every part of the manufacturing process, including the machinery and components are quality assessed. Manufacturing systems are analysed to ensure that the products conform to internationally accepted safety and quality standards," Hickey explained.
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Only once the SABS audit is complete, does a system qualify for
the SABS mark. The SABS approval refers only to the initial SABS
testing. The process is explained on the SABS website as follows:
"To
earn the SABS Mark, the product is firstly proven through testing, to
verify that it complies with the requirements of the applicable South
African National Standard. If no South African National Standard is
deemed to apply to the product, then other acceptable standards may be
used at the discretion of the SABS. This testing will be carried out by
the SABS, using either its own laboratories or any other laboratory that
it may nominate.
"Secondly, the manufacturing process for the
product will be audited to ensure that the product can be manufactured
consistently to the required standard. In order to prove this
capability, the manufacturer must have a documented quality system in
place that covers at least the important components of the manufacturing
process. The SABS will audit this system using the ISO 9000 standard as
a guideline, although it is not a requirement that the manufacturer’s
system must comply fully with all requirements of that standard."
Click here to view Solahart's SABS certificate.
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