South Africans have been spared scheduled load-shedding since March 2024, giving rise to cautious optimism. After years of unreliable grid electricity, our power supply might be stabilising. However, the suspension of load-shedding doesn’t mean the end of the electricity crisis. We no longer struggle with planned, scheduled service interruptions, but unexpected power failures are still common in many parts of the country.

There are usually multiple reasons for any power outage. Often, poorly maintained infrastructure and illegal electricity connections combine to overload the system, which blows transformers and other components. These are expensive to replace, and cash-strapped municipalities may have to dig into maintenance budgets to pay for replacements and repairs. This in turn leaves less money for other essential maintenance and increases the cost of electricity – which leads to more illegal connections, and so the cycle repeats itself.

Hopefully, the suspension of load-shedding is a signal that authorities are also tackling the problem of maintaining our grid infrastructure, and in future, we’ll experience fewer sudden blackouts. In the meantime, how can you reduce your reliance on the national grid, so that a power failure won’t bring your day to a standstill?

Solar is the most popular alternative currently, and SA has seen massive investment in solar power over the past few years, both commercially and for household use.

5 ways you can benefit from solar energy

1. Reduced electricity accounts

The cost of grid electricity and the surcharges added by municipalities rise every year. Installing solar power – whether in your home or your small business – can lower your electricity costs by reducing the amount of grid power you use and pay for. The cost savings you’ll make from solar will repay your outlay on installing the system in a few years.

2. Energy independence

A standalone power system with solar panels connected to batteries and an inverter gives you a degree of independence from the national grid. That alone will give you peace of mind, knowing that a blackout won’t disrupt your life. In addition, as a private user who generates your own clean energy, you ease the strain on the grid during times of peak demand, which can reduce overloading, faults, and power failures. In fact, the reduction in grid demand caused by the recent spate of home solar installations is considered part of the reason Eskom no longer needs to implement load-shedding.

3. Sustainability benefits

Renewable energy is a sustainable way to lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels. It’s essential to cut emissions to slow down climate change, combat the destruction caused by extreme weather events, and keep the planet healthy for the next generation. Since most of our grid power is generated using fossil fuels, by installing solar and reducing your reliance on the grid, you also reduce the use of fossil fuels and contribute directly to a more sustainable world.

Traditional power plants use massive amounts of water – another scarce resource facing increasing service delivery challenges in SA – so apart from reducing your carbon footprint, solar power is also more water-wise. Finally, mining fossil fuels commonly causes habitat loss and environmental degradation that is harmful to plant and animal life. By reducing the demand for fossil fuels, solar installations help to reduce stress on these ecosystems.

4. Increased property values

Homes with solar energy installed tend to have higher property values. Buyers are often willing to pay a premium for properties that already include solar installations because of the long-term cost savings, environmental benefits and increased energy independence.

5. Job creation and economic growth

The solar industry has taken root and is thriving in SA. Local solar manufacturing and imported technology create jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance and research. Not only does installing solar benefit you directly by ending power failures in your home or business, but by stimulating jobs and economic growth you’re also contributing to a more prosperous country and helping to reduce inequality.

Choosing solar power is not simply a personal investment – it makes you part of a movement towards a more sustainable future for all. Nedbank’s market-leading Avo Solar platform offers a range of tailored, preapproved packages that include installation and maintenance, designed to suit different budgets and energy needs.