Top tips to avoid unnecessary electricity bills this holiday

Many South Africans going on holiday this festive season will continue to accumulate unnecessary costs on their monthly electricity bill as a result of lights and appliances that continue to draw power, even while the home is unoccupied.

This according to Alan Matthews, Spokesperson for Energy Partners, who states that there are both quick and longer-term energy saving solutions that homeowners need to seriously consider before departing for the holidays. “Electricity costs are still on the rise, and Energy Partners’ research indicates that there will be above inflation increases in tariffs for at least the next three years. With that in mind, homeowners should start to adopt an energy saving mind-set at every available opportunity,” he says.

The first step, according to Matthews, should be to switch off the geyser for the duration of the time spent away from home. “Keep in mind that a traditional geyser is responsible for up to 50% of the home’s monthly electricity consumption. Even when there is no-one at home to use hot water, the geyser uses a considerable amount of energy to maintain the water temperature.

“If it is necessary to keep the geyser on while away, reduce its maximum temperature to 60ᵒC or below. It is also possible to install a timer to manage the geyser’s electricity use, and covering the geyser with insulation to reduce heat loss is a good idea,” he adds.

Next, Matthews says that homeowners should ensure that all ‘phantom energy users’ are unplugged. “TVs, DVD players, computers, printers, radios and various other electronics use energy even when not turned on. While each item may only draw a very small amount of power, consider how many appliances are plugged in at your home right now. All of the wasted energy adds up,” he says.

According to Matthews, there is also an opportunity to save energy outside the home by setting the pool pump to run for a shorter period each day. “Homeowners can use their own discretion, but most of the time, there is room for improvement in this regard.”

He adds that homeowners should also use this time to consider options that will save energy and reduce electricity costs throughout the year. “If you have not done so already, something to consider for 2017 is the installation of heat pumps. Heat pumps have the potential to provide hot water at the same temperature while utilising up to 70% less electricity than a regular geyser. Used in conjunction with a solar heating solution, this has the potential to drastically reduce total electricity spend.”

According to Matthews, the initial cost of such a system could be justified over time. “Energy Partners Home Solutions’ integrated home energy systems is a full solution, designed to reduce a home’s monthly electricity spend by around 70%. With a carefully planned and designed solution, the cost of the system’s installation could easily be recovered in five years,” he concludes.

About Energy Partners

Founded in 2008, Energy Partners is a leading energy solutions provider in South Africa that provides clients with innovative solutions (including fully outsourced supply contracts – e.g. steam generation) to suit their needs. Energy Partners has built a high quality team of talented individuals and robust processes which offer end-to-end solutions and integrate the different components of energy optimisation to deliver optimum results – including capital solutions that put clients in a positive cash flow positions from day one. Industries in which Energy Partners specialise include: food retail, retail, healthcare, hospitality, food processing and logistics. For more information visit http://www.poweryourself.co.za/.

About PSG

PSG Group is an investment holding company consisting of underlying investments that operate across industries which include financial services, banking, private equity, agriculture and education. PSG Group has a market capitalisation in excess of R40bn, with our largest investment being a 30,7% interest in Capitec.

Additional group companies include Energy Partners, Impak, Curro and Capitec.