Solar systems for farms and Eskom Tariffs

Solar systems for farms usually mean a change in Eskom tariffs. This is actually a good thing. Most farms especially in the Western Cape are 3 phase Eskom direct customers and on a Landrace tariff. Depending on usage the fixed rates come to around R5000 per month which doesn’t really change when installing a solar system. The Eskom tariff is called the Landrate tariff which sits at roughly R2,58 per kWh (unit).

When installing a solar system your installer will apply for SSEG registration and the Tariff will be switch to something called RuraFlex, which a a Time Of Use Tarrif (TOU) and the rate per unit  will vary according to the time of day as well as the time of year. This is good news Eskom incentivises power consumer to use more electricity during off peak times and not during the peak season or peak times of the day. These peak periods are when we will be depleting batteries and saving massive amounts off your power bill.

 

Landrate Tariffs

The current landrace tariff for rural users not more than 300km from the transmission source is R2,24 per unit. This is a fixed amount and will not vary depending on the time of day. Other network and ancillary charges are to apply.

Switching to Time of Use and saving your farms with Solar

TOU rates for Ruraflex Gen

High Demand Season – June, July, August.

Peak – R7.94 per kWh

Standard – R1.98 per kWh

Off Peak – R1.32 per kW

Low Demand Season

Peak – R3.29 per kWh

Standard – R1.85 per kWh

Off Peak – 1.32 per kWh

This is great news and great incentive to install a solar system with battery arbitrage. As you can see the R2,58 per unit gets reduced to R1.32 per kWh so that means that if the customer has to buy excess power that the solar system can not provide due to sizing or weather conditions then the purchase rate is at a 48% discounted price !

Contact us to see how we can get your farms profits back to you!!!