The Kiffness has revealed plans to install an off-grid solar system in a bid to escape the woes of Eskom.
Image via Facebook: The Kiffness/Pixabay
With no end in sight for loadshedding and now a proposed “levy” for those who use solar energy on their grid, Eskom continues to be a bone of contention amongst South Africans, including music act The Kiffness.
The latest blow is a proposal to charge those who utilise solar energy almost R1000 per month to use their grid. This week the energy supplier proposed a new tariff to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) that would  particularly target those who use alternative energy sources
For solar power users connected to the grid, this would equate to R938 per month – even if they don’t use its electricity.
This, amid Eskom implementing blackouts every day for the last month.
ESKOM TO CHARGE FOR ON-GRID SOLAR ENERGY
According to Eskom’s new tariffs, solar energy users will be liable to pay R720 more every month in addition to the R218 to remain on the grid.
This forms part of a new fee structure that will bill South Africans irrespective of how much power they use. The new billing system will be split into two – one starting at R938 to remain connected to Eskom grids and in addition, another fee depending on how much energy is used.
According to Eskom, “the aim is not to get additional revenue but to rebalance tariffs in such a way that fixed costs are recovered to a greater extent by fixed charges”.
For solar energy users, going off-grid is just as expensive as it would require a backup utilising a generator to fill batteries, which is reliant on the increasing fuel prices.Those with solar panels but still on Eskom’s grid will pay hundreds of rands more each month in the new proposed power tariffs. Image: PixabayFollowing the announcement of Eskom’s new energy tariffs, South Africans took to social media to complain about the latest 
David Scott – known by his stage name of The Kiffness – hit out at the energy supplier.
The outspoken posted in a series of sarcastic tweets:
“If you use solar & refuse to pay Eskom’s R938 / month tariff, they switch off your sun”
“Apparently sun-shedding is irreversible. Better pay my Eskom tariffs”
“As long as Eskom can keep the sun running, it’s a small price to pay for their service”
“Hopefully the sun will become the first SOE [stae-owned enterprise] that doesn’t spontaneously combust & implode on itself to form a blackhole”
“Same reason SABC makes us pay for TV licenses, even though no one watches their shows. They want money!”
Twitter
The Kiffness also revealed he had forked out a small fortune to install a solar system – off the grid – which would see the end to his tumultuous relationship with Eskom.
He tweeted: “Paid deposit for our hybrid solar installation. 12 panels & a 5kw inverter.  If all goes to plan, it should be up & running next month & loadshedding will be a thing of the past”.