a) The provision and roll-out of solar geysers is undertaken by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) is collaborating with the DMRE in this regard.
To respond to the rising cost of living and energy poverty, I have announced that subsidised houses will be provided with solar panels in all new housing projects at 500W per housing unit. This is effective from the 1st of April 2023. At 500W, this home solar system is envisaged to cover lighting and provide energy to basic home appliances such as radio, television, Wi-Fi and refrigerator. Through this intervention, it is expected that the subsidised home solar system will contribute to the reduction of the total cost of electricity-consuming appliances in homes.
b) The NDHS has not rolled out any solar geysers, therefore it cannot provide feedback on the effectiveness thereof.
c) (i) The NDHS has held discussions with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) which are envisaged to culminate into a collaboration that will be expressed in a Memorandum of Agreement, for the installation of 6000 solar geysers in the Eastern Cape province.
c) (ii) The time frames for the roll-out of the solar geysers is expected to take place within the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years and will be confirmed in the Memorandum of Agreement between the two Departments.