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• Or, you could just go for the ‘Hippy Option’

One of the YouTube Channels that I watch on a semi-regular basis is ‘Undecided with Matt Ferrell’.

In his latest video, “The Hidden Problem With Home Batteries”, Matt details how he actually loses money on his home battery setup in a 1 for 1 net metering situation in the state of Massachusetts.

Matt is a bit of an uber nerd when it comes to making decisions – not only does he over research but he continues to do so by monitoring and reporting back on his purchases, in detail and well after the date of purchase.

In some ways he extolls the BA Systems Energy Management mantra of; “If you can measure it, you can manage it!”

BUT, the bottom line when watching such videos from another part of the world is that every country, province, metropolitan area and utility supplier has different ways that they handle charges for electricity and grid connection charges.

The quick take away for South Africa is somewhere in the following:

Financial efficiency may shift positively if utilities transition away from 1:1 net metering or introduce Time-of-Use (TOU) rate structures. Under TOU rates, storing cheap daytime energy to discharge during expensive peak hours makes batteries considerably more financially viable.

In fact Matt estimates that a TOU tariff may impact him directly as follows: From minus $200 per year to between $170 and $800 plus in savings per year. Again – efficient management of use is the key.

As a consumer in South Africa there are three main areas to consider:

1. Does my supplier offer Net Metering?
2. What is the proportion (1:1 2:1 etc)?
3. What are the Time of Use Tariffs for each portion?

Of course the real reason why South African consumers install home batteries is really an emotional response to an Eskom failure – loadshedding provided the impetus.

Now, if Eskom was superbly efficient with a 100% uptime then we could forget about that emotional response and just use Grid Tie Solar – what Straton Solar call their ‘Hippy Option’ – without batteries which is a far cheaper option in a 1:1 environment.

Key Models & Distinctions Across Major SA Metros

Cash Payouts vs. Bill Offsets:

Cape Town (Cash for Power): Cape Town offers a true cash payout option for commercial and residential customers who generate a net surplus, paying out funds directly once accumulated credits pass a minimum threshold.

All Other Metros: Operates strictly on a bill-credit system. Excess power fed into the grid offsets the electricity portion of your municipal account for that billing cycle, but you cannot request cash refunds.

The ‘payback’ amounts vary between the Metros and one can expect a ‘payback’ amount of around 30% of what you pay for a kW/h as a consumer – again dependant upon a number of factors such as whether you are on an IBT Tariff or not.

Mandatory Fixed Monthly Charges:

To prevent solar users from avoiding infrastructure maintenance costs, most metros (including Joburg City Power and Cape Town) require SSEG participants to pay a fixed monthly network access fee or capacity charge.

Net Consumer Requirement:

Under NERSA guidelines, residential customers in almost all South African municipalities must remain net consumers (importing more kilowatt-hours from the grid annually than they export) unless they obtain a specific independent power producer (IPP) generation license.

Non-Export / Zero-Export Alternative:

If you do not wish to pay bi-directional smart meter fees or fixed SSEG network charges, most metros allow you to install a reverse-flow blocking device (export limiter). This lets you use solar for your own home consumption without feeding back into the municipality grid or changing your standard residential tariff.

Video Summary:

Here is a summary of the salient points from the video “The Hidden Problem With Home Batteries” by Matt Ferrell (Undecided with Matt Ferrell):

Financial & Return on Investment (ROI) Realities

Negative Financial ROI: Despite installing $22,385 worth of batteries (net cost after federal tax credits and state incentives), the system costs about $27/year in electricity to run and does not generate direct savings under standard 1:1 net metering.

Roundtrip Efficiency Losses: Storing self-generated solar energy in a home battery loses ~16% of that energy as heat. Under flat-rate, 1:1 net metering policies, exporting power to the grid is effectively 100% efficient, making the grid a better “battery” financially.

High Stored Energy Costs: Factoring in equipment depreciation and charging opportunity costs, power drawn from the home battery costs approximately $0.68/kWh, compared to paying $0.32/kWh directly from the grid.

Revenue Streams (Utility Battery Demand Response)

Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Income: The only significant monetary return comes from utility programs (e.g., Connected Solutions) that “rent” the battery to discharge power during summer peak demand hours.

Variable Payouts: Annual earnings ranged between ~$1,500 and $1,880. However, payments are tied to peak power delivery rate (kW) rather than total capacity (kWh), meaning payouts fluctuate based on how utilities manage discharge times.

Degredation vs. Time-Based Wear

Aging Out Before Wearing Out: Due to lower winter generation and lower discharge cycles, the battery completes roughly 230 cycles per year. Because it is rated for 6,000 cycles or 15 years, the unit will reach its calendar shelf life long before reaching its maximum cycle limits.

Resilience vs. Financial Motivation

Resilience, Not Independence: The speaker makes a clear distinction between leaving the grid (independence) and keeping seamless power during grid failures (resilience).

Peace of Mind: The primary non-financial benefit is seamless backup during grid outages—allowing critical home loads (HVAC, refrigeration, lights) to stay powered without interruption or manual intervention.

Environmental Impact: Discharging stored energy during peak hours replaces reliance on dirty “peaker” fossil-fuel plants.

Images:

 

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrO9TArSK6o

Don’t Let Others Experience Put You Off Battery Storage

Links:

Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
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First Published here: MyPR.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

• Smart Tools vs Less Smart Meters
• Is Shelly Smarter than Eskom?

Eskom’s Claim

Eskom are actively encouraging consumers to switch to Smart Meters. Listening to SAFM this morning one of the presenters read out Eskom’s advert (radio’s version of editorial!) and one of the claim in the script, amongst others, was that Smart Meters “save energy”. The way that it was worded made me wonder just how Smart Meters will save me energy (money) or magically make individual appliances more energy efficient if installed.

Is this correct?

The bottom line is that ultimately, a smart meter does not inherently generate electricity or make individual appliances more energy-efficient on its own. Instead, it saves energy by modifying human behaviour, automating load reductions during critical peak times, and preventing system-wide overloads, effectively lowering overall demand on the national grid.

So, it could be said, that Eskom is using an obfuscation technique to ‘encourage’ consumers to sign up to being more controlled at the main electrical entry point into their properties.

So what is the actual story around Smart Meters?

When Eskom claims that smart meters “save energy,” they are referring to a combination of demand-side management, automated grid balancing, and behavioural changes enabled by two-way digital communication.

Unlike traditional mechanical meters – which simply record how much electricity has been used after the fact – smart meters actively change how energy is consumed through several practical mechanisms:

Load Limiting and Remote Control

Smart meters feature two-way communication capabilities that allow utilities like Eskom to manage grid constraints dynamically.

During periods of high grid strain, Eskom can initiate load limiting rather than plunging an entire neighbourhood into total darkness (load shedding).

The smart meter caps the maximum output power allowed into a home for a defined period, prompting consumers to manually or automatically turn off heavy-draw appliances (such as geysers, stoves, pool pumps, and washing machines).

If high-consumption appliances are left running past a warning threshold, the meter temporarily trips or disconnects supply to avoid a total system overload, directly forcing a reduction in energy demand.

Targeting High-Energy Assets (Geysers)

Water heating (geysers) accounts for a massive percentage of domestic electricity demand in South Africa – often up to 35% during peak periods. Smart meter and smart geyser projects allow utilities or homeowners to remotely monitor and control geysers. By scheduling heating cycles to off-peak hours or temporarily turning them off during grid emergencies, utilities drastically shave down peak-hour energy consumption without permanently cutting off essential power (like lights, routers, and medical devices).

Real-Time Consumer Awareness and Behaviour Shift

Traditional meters hide usage patterns until the monthly bill arrives. Smart meters give consumers (and automated home systems) granular, real-time data regarding when and how much electricity they are consuming. Studies show that when households have visibility into their consumption patterns – such as identifying “phantom loads” (appliances left on standby) or energy spikes – they naturally modify their behaviour to eliminate waste and lower costs.

A Better ROI From Shelly

Now, if Eskom really wanted to directly benefit consumers then they would be touting Smart Home Automation via products from Shelly.

These products will save significantly more energy for a consumer than just a smart meter alone.

While a smart meter provides visibility and passive tracking of electricity usage (or allows the utility to manage load limits), a smart automation ecosystem like Shelly actively intervenes to reduce consumption, eliminate waste, and automate energy efficiency.

Why Shelly products achieve greater energy savings:

Passive Monitoring vs. Active Automation

Smart Meter: A smart meter tells you how much electricity you used and when you used it, but it cannot turn off appliances for you or change your home’s behaviour on its own.

Shelly Products: Shelly devices feature smart relays, plugs, and switches (such as the Shelly 1PM or Shelly Plug) that actively control circuits and appliances. They can automatically shut off power based on schedules, timers, or triggers, removing human error (like forgetting to turn off an appliance or light).

Eliminating “Phantom Loads” (Standby Power)

Smart Meter: Cannot see individual appliance standby draws hidden inside your home’s total aggregate load.

Shelly Products: Smart plugs and switches can completely cut power to entertainment centres, computers, and kitchen appliances when they are not in use, entirely eliminating phantom/standby power consumption.

Granular Circuit and Appliance Control

Smart Meter: Measures total household consumption from the main distribution board.

Shelly Products: Devices can be installed on specific high-draw circuits or individual appliances – such as geysers, pool pumps, and air conditioners – allowing you to automate precise run-times (e.g., running a pool pump only during specific solar or off-peak hours).

Integration with Solar and Inverter Systems

Smart Meter: Standard utility meters simply measure net import/export.

Shelly Products: Using devices like the Shelly Pro 3EM alongside Shelly smart relays allows households with solar panels to track excess solar generation in real time and automatically divert surplus energy to heavy loads (like heating elements or pool pumps) rather than letting it go to waste.

A smart meter is an informational tool that helps you see your energy use, whereas Shelly automation products are intervention tools that actively stop energy waste. Combining them – or using Shelly’s own energy monitoring meters with their smart switches – yields a far greater reduction in overall energy consumption and electricity costs.

Shelly Pro 4PM

An example of a Smart Shelly Device is the Shelly Pro 4PM which has 4 channels with Power Monitoring. in addition you can see exactly how many Watts each of the four circuits is using; The Shelly 4 PM supports up to 16A per channel, with a total device limit of 40A and includes professional-grade protection against overpower, overvoltage, and overtemperature.

All the Shelly devices are capable of being live monitored and adjusted on your mobile device WITHOUT a cloud subscription of any kind.

Stratlec also has a range of Shelly Accessories to make installation simpler and faster.

Links:

Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
More Info on Who Actually Saves When Smart Meters are Installed? here:
X: https://twitter.com/MyPE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratlec/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StratonElectrical/

CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.

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First Published here: MyPR.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

As a second time around parent to two Special Needs boys – one with mild Autism and one with ADHD deluxe I had a very rude (and earth shattering) awakening to this genre of education.

My first two children excelled at traditional schools and went on to honours, masters and jobs that set them up for life.

My second time around sons have enabled me to find the depths of patience that I never knew existed. Admittedly they turned my life around – the first major change was getting used to being woken up at 4:00 am day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year. Thankfully that has eased off dramatically and sleep deprivation is slowly being cancelled.

Parents with Special Needs children have major added expenses in their lives – therapy, counselling, special schooling, medications that all result in tens of thousands or rands more per month than a comparable child in a traditional school.

Try R9000 a month per child for schooling that offers one teacher per less than 10 children or over a thousand rand a month for chronic medication that NO private medical aid or government dispensary will cover and you start to see why special needs parents are ‘heads down’ and focused on surviving and creating an environment for their children that will allow them to thrive and join society in a positive manner when they leave school.

The Saints of Elsen:

My school mate, Mark Barclay, is the Headmaster at Elsen Academy and, as I say to him every time we chat; “Mark you are a saint with patience exceeding that of Job!” Imagine a few hundred special needs children under your care and you will understand why Mark and his dedicated staff are candidates for sainthood.

Sainthood is probably an apt term as the Elsen Academy is presently housed in one of Ken Denton’s buildings – the old Holy Rosary Convent, slap bang in the Central area.

Now, Central has lost it’s charm and feeling of safety as the drug dealers and prostitutes roam Bird Street – not something that one wants impressionable children to be exposed to!

In addition there are no grassy fields for the children to play sport on – all they have for football games is an old tennis court with artificial turf thereon.

We all know that Ken marches to the slow beat of his own drum so the school is in a constant state of construction – it has been so since John and Nicholas started there 8 or so years ago. Once again not so wonderful for young children. Let me hasten to add, though, that the work that has been completed is excellent.

Headboy:

I have another friend from the Old Grey Class of ’81 – Michael Jarvis (we know him as Headboy). Now Michael also had a child at Elsen Academy. He recently asked the Class of ’81 if they could assist Elsen Academy with a dream that they have, saying; “You all know the extraordinary work that Mark Barclay has been doing with Elsen in Bird Street. My own son went there from junior school and this year successfully completed his Masters in the UK — a living example of what Mark’s vision, the school’s model and the dedication of his team can achieve.”

Headboy was the Chair of the Elsen Board for many years, and one of the boards great ambitions has always been to create a secure campus — a true home and the heart of the Alma Mater that means so much to all.

As Headboy says; “Despite our best efforts, during my time as Chairman we never quite managed to make that happen. Now, incredibly, the opportunity has presented itself.”

The Bottom Line – Act Fast:

Curro has closed the St. Georges Primary School in Park Drive and put the campus on the market. Elsen Academy made an offer before the auction date but were turned down. Now they estimate that they would have to up their offer by around R4 Million in order to secure the St. Georges Campus for the Elsen Academy and have embarked on a public appeal to the Elsen Community and the South African Public at large to assist with pledges by 24 August 2026 to reach that goal.

Insiders tell me that with the estimated purchase price the school will be paying less per month on a bond than what they pay for rental at present – so keen minds have been applied to make sure that the move is for all the right reasons that include financial!

The chance to acquire the St George’s School campus is not simply a property opportunity. It could be the defining moment in Elsen’s history — creating the secure, permanent campus these children need and giving this very special institution the platform to thrive for generations.

Imagine, if you will, just how much a school with a pool and grass will inspire these children to greater heights.

If you can assist please contact Mark directly on 082 874 1888 or mark@elsen.co.za

Do You Know Jannie Mouton?

Curro Holdings is owned by the Jannie Mouton Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit trust. The foundation acquired the private school network in a R7.2 billion deal that delisted Curro from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and transitioned it into a public benefit organization.

So, if you know Mr Mouton well enough to pick up the phone and have a chat I, for one, would be forever grateful if you could appeal to his kind heart and ask if he is willing to make a private deal with Elsen – no charity, just a deal that will ensure that Gqeberha’s beloved historical St Georges Park Campus will be preserved for generations to come and not fall prey to a developer who will rob future generations of this magnificent building.

The elegant Victorian mansion ‘Knockfierna’ in Park Drive is entirely suitable for Elsen Academy. It ushered in the 20th century as the home of a wealthy wool merchant and farmer, John Daverin. Daverin was also a Member of Parliament and philanthropist (like Jannie Mouton). Now largely forgotten, his legacy endured in the form of the St Georges Preparatory School, let’s continue the properties long standing use as a school and make Elsen Academy’s dream come true.

Images:

 

 

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGRtp5-7dZ86DU-pmAiEvqg/

Let’s Chat About Special Needs Children (And my Special School Friend)

Links:

Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
More Info on Let’s Chat About Special Needs Children (And my Special School Friend) here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Elsen.Academy

CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.

First Published here: MyPR.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.

Cultural Crossroads: Dance, Heritage and Community Unite at NMBDF

Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival’s official media photo shoot was held at one of Gqeberha’s iconic historical landmarks – the Nelson Mandela Main Library. It provides a fitting backdrop for an event that celebrates artistic excellence and cultural expression. The heritage architecture and public spaces reflect the rich history of the city and its longstanding commitment to the arts.

By showcasing young dancers against this historic setting, the festival highlights the powerful relationship between dance, culture and community heritage. The imagery captures not only the grace and discipline of the performers but also the importance of preserving and celebrating the cultural spaces that continue to inspire creativity across generations.

Nici Lovemore, Chairlady of NMBDF and daughter of one of the founding members of the festival, the late Hermione Ballinger, said that she thought long and hard about assuming the mantle and even sought counsel from a few leaders in the dance world in SA. “When I take something on, I like to do it very intentionally and professionally. My vision for NMBDF is a platform for growth to enable our dancers to stand tall anywhere in the world – a slick, professionally run festival. This, in alignment with beautiful landmarks of our city and in collaboration with other arts facilities. Not only has my Mom’s legacy been protected and elevated, but I believe that this honestly altruistic service adds value to dance in our city, and the image of our city and its community as a whole,” said Lovemore.

Graham Taylor, a representative from the Main Library Friends, said it was a privilege to host the photo shoot at the Main Public Library. “The library provided the perfect photographic setting for the long running dance festival which is a credit to all in the city. As the festival date approaches, we look forward to the release of the spectacular images of the dance festival artists in the library, a timely reminder of the centrality of arts, literature and the library in the city. This centrality further emphasizes the need to reopen the library to the public by completing the renovations that have been outstanding since 2014, despite the availability of budget to complete the renovations. We urge the municipality to stop diverting library budgets and complete the renovations according to the needs of citizens as voiced over more than a decade,” Taylor added.

As dancers from across the region gather at the Savoy Theatre from 24 to 29 August, the festival serves as a reminder that the performing arts are an essential part of Nelson Mandela Bay’s cultural identity, connecting the city’s history with its future through creativity, education and community participation.

NMBDF remains one of the region’s premier performing arts events, bringing together aspiring dancers, respected teachers, families and audiences in a celebration of talent, dedication and the transformative power of the arts.

Images:

 

 

CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.

Links:

Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes:

More Info on Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival 2026 here: https://www.facebook.com/nelsonmandelabaydancefestival
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nelsonmandelabaydancefestival

First Published here: MyPR.co.za

Did You Know?

• Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
• Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
• Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
• Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
• Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
• Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
• Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.