SOUTH AFRICA: ENERGY EFFICIENCY DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE (2004–2022)

The potential for vast energy savings and GHG reductions available from EE in South Africa remains largely untapped. In addition, South Africa has yet to successfully mitigate the ongoing energy crisis and electricity supply shortages—energy shortages which could partially be met by reducing energy use and demand through DSM programmes. Despite the nascent attempts to establish a conducive policy and regulatory environment in 2007, most of the EE and DSM programmes have not been established or embedded sufficiently in regular government and utility practices for them to be institutionalised. The approach initiated by the government in 2007 after the country’s electricity supply shortages lacked political support in the longer term.
Re-establishing EE as a political priority will increase the effectiveness of the work being undertaken by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMRE) EE unit. South Africa has a tremendous opportunity to reduce total electricity demand, which in turn will lower consumer energy bills, reduce GHG emissions and create jobs. This will deliver a more equitable energy system. However, to tap this potential EEDSM must be elevated as a political priority.