{"id":4639,"date":"2026-01-07T16:30:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=175126"},"modified":"2026-01-07T16:30:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:30:35","slug":"want-to-free-yourself-from-municipal-electricity-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/want-to-free-yourself-from-municipal-electricity-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to Free Yourself From Municipal Electricity Bills?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Straton_Solar_1020.png\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/want-to-free-yourself-from-municipal-electricity-bills\/#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>AND have a redundant system!<\/li>\n<li>Are batteries still viable in this \u2018loadshedding lite\u2019 pattern we find ourselves in?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I recently wrote an article comparing the average annual percentage increase for electricity in Nelson Mandela Bay and contrasted that with the average annual percentage increases for municipal employees and councillors. (<em><strong>Article here<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/mynmb.co.za\/how-the-nmbm-contributes-massively-to-nelson-mandela-bays-financial-failure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/mynmb.co.za\/how-the-nmbm-contributes-massively-to-nelson-mandela-bays-financial-failure\/<\/a><\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>That got me thinking about how we could zero our consumption at home and have a redundant Solar System.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Want_to_Join_me_to_Free_Yourself_From_Municipal_Bills\"><\/span><strong>Want to Join me to Free Yourself From Municipal Bills?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I have already taken the first step and prepared my Distribution Board for the installation of a Solar System (<em><strong>See:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/a-real-tale-of-the-cobbler-and-his-shoes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/a-real-tale-of-the-cobbler-and-his-shoes\/<\/a><\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>The second conversation is around monthly consumption \u2013 I find myself on the Top Tier and we consume around 1200 kWh\u2019s per month.<\/p>\n<p>I require a certain amount of redundancy so that means installing TWO inverters (and batteries if required).<\/p>\n<p>I need to produce around of 40kwh\u2019s per day.<\/p>\n<p>That would mean around 12kw of PV Panels which is approximately 22 panels.<\/p>\n<p>The redundancy idea also gives the ability to utilise an east, north, west orientation (with four MPPT\u2019s)<\/p>\n<p>A 30 \u2013 40kWh battery bank will carry us through the night and on cloudy days.<\/p>\n<p>The above setup, with two 12kW inverters will produce from 40 \u2013 65kwh\u2019s per day in summer \u2013 allowing for top up and self consumption.<\/p>\n<p>My flatlet tenants consume around 450 units of electricity per month \u2013 so that will increase my recovery on the upfront investment a bit faster.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"There_are_two_suggestions_as_to_equipment\"><\/span><strong>There are two suggestions as to equipment:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>2 x Sunsynk 8kW Hybrid Inverters plus 6 x 5.12kWh batteries plus 20 x Tier 1 Solar Panels OR<\/li>\n<li>2 x 12kw Sigenergy Hybrid Inverters plus 4 x 8.06kWh Sigen Battery Modules plus 22 x 550W Tier 1 Solar Panels<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Estimated_pricing_Including_BoS_Cabling_and_Labour\"><\/span><strong>Estimated pricing (Including BoS, Cabling and Labour):<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Sunsynk: R237 900 \u2013 R283 500.<\/li>\n<li>Sigenergy \u2013 R282 000 \u2013 R348 000.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Straton Solar<\/a> are installers of both models my preference is for the Sigenenergy range.<\/p>\n<p>Should I opt for the highest estimated amount of R348 00 then it will take me 7 years to recover that investment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BTW<\/strong> \u2013 In year 7 the price of electricity (increased by 12% per annum) will be R9.02 per unit.<\/p>\n<p>Next step is to get the Solar Panels up, breathe for a bit and then do the inverter and battery combinations.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Links\"><\/span><strong>Links:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/Want%20to%20Free%20Yourself%20From%20Municipal%20Electricity%20Bills?\/2\/\">Boilerplate and Editor\u2019s Notes<\/a><\/strong>.<br \/><strong>More Info on <a href=\"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Want to Free Yourself From Municipal Electricity Bills?<\/a> here:<\/strong><br \/><strong>Facebook<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/StratonElectrical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/StratonElectrical\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/save-with-myprs-monthly-flat-fee\/\">CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-pagination pagination\">Pages: <span class=\"post-page-numbers current\" aria-current=\"page\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Page <\/span>1<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/want-to-free-yourself-from-municipal-electricity-bills\/2\/\" class=\"post-page-numbers\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Page <\/span>2<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/want-to-free-yourself-from-municipal-electricity-bills\/\" target=\"_blank\">CLICK HERE to Read the Original Press Release on MyPR<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents AND have a redundant system! Are batteries still viable in this \u2018loadshedding lite\u2019 pattern we find ourselves in? I recently wrote an article comparing the average annual percentage increase for electricity in Nelson Mandela Bay and contrasted that with the average annual percentage increases for municipal employees and councillors. (Article here: https:\/\/mynmb.co.za\/how-the-nmbm-contributes-massively-to-nelson-mandela-bays-financial-failure\/) &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic","date":"2026-01-07T15:06:25+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mbtqlgvtqn2u","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mbtqlgvtqn2u\",\"cid\":\"bafyreiakonamihupfckhwravcerwjserisw3hpgujiska4i27lt2ln3kdq\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreiccvavowryk3hlfmtxkwragwbueagfv2vjgztojrew4blzocgk3bq\",\"rev\":\"3mbtqlgwagv2u\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","autoblue_publish_document":false,"republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,3],"tags":[29],"class_list":["type-post","category-featured","category-news","tag-mypr-africa","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4639\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}