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In the face of political and economic turbulence, smarter water heating offers a clear win for households and the planet

Johannesburg, South Africa – As Earth Day 2025 approaches, South Africans are grappling with more than just climate anxiety. Between the threat of a VAT hike, soaring electricity tariffs and the ripple effects of global trade tensions, everyday sustainability is no longer just a moral imperative – it’s a financial necessity.

In this environment, one of the most effective, and overlooked, ways to make a meaningful difference is by rethinking how we use energy at home. For most households, water heating accounts for up to 40% of electricity consumption. That means what powers your geyser could be the key to cutting your energy bill, and your carbon footprint.

“When politics feel unstable and the future feels uncertain, the smartest action is to focus on what you can control,” says Murray Crow, Managing Director of Kwikot. “This Earth Day, we’re reminding South Africans that the simple act of switching to an energy-efficient water heating system can deliver real and lasting impact for your wallet and the planet.”

Why Water Heating Matters More Than Ever

With the cost of living climbing and load shedding continuing, South African families are under pressure. Choosing a smart, solar-ready or heat pump water heating system can help households:

• Save up to 40% on electricity bills
• Reduce reliance on the national grid during peak hours
• Lower carbon emissions through more efficient energy use
• Support local industry and jobs, with Kwikot’s systems manufactured right here in South Africa

“People often talk about solar panels or electric cars when they think of green living,” adds Crow. “But upgrading your geyser is one of the most accessible and impactful energy choices a homeowner can make.”

A Local Legacy for a More Sustainable Tomorrow

With more than 120 years of local manufacturing experience, Kwikot is deeply rooted in South African homes and deeply committed to building a more energy-resilient future.

As global policies shift and national debates around tax, energy and trade intensify, Kwikot remains focused on helping South Africans take back control through smart, everyday solutions.

1 April 2025: Local manufacturer Pratley continues to grow well despite weaker economic conditions last year, comments CEO Andrew Pratley. The company aims to launch at least two or three new products every year, and certainly 2025 will be no different. “We have world-class products unlike any others on the world market and continuously roll these out to new export markets.”

Pratley’s strategy to tap into such new opportunities is to identify suitable distributors in export markets with a similar business and ethical culture. “We focus on companies that are quality conscious, have technically sound sales teams, understand the local market and operating environment, and have a distribution network that fits our product range,” highlights Andrew.

Export growth continues to be a critical driver for Pratley’s overall expansion, with Africa offering significant opportunities across all its divisions. “Notably, we have made remarkable progress over the past year in having our electrical termination products specified for numerous large-scale projects across various countries, especially in Europe, Africa and the Middle East,” reveals Andrew. In addition, Pratley has dedicated sales teams focusing on the African market, working closely with distributors to maximise synergy and deliver exceptional results.

With regard to its adhesives division, Pratley made significant progress over the last year in perfecting the performance of many of its existing products. In most instances it has managed to optimise existing formulations while also taking performance and reliability to even higher levels.

“This is thanks to an extremely competent R&D department as well as newer production technologies that went online this year. Over recent years we have diversified our range of adhesive products significantly. In the past, we mainly focused on high-strength epoxy and acrylic based adhesives,” says Andrew.

In 2024, the company also took major strides towards energy sustainability, installing at least 600 kW of solar power with more to come. This has not only mitigated unnecessary production stoppages due to unreliable electricity supply issues but has also lowered the company’s carbon footprint.

“Pratley takes the stance that whatever we install or do, we need inhouse expertise to maintain and manage the system, so we are not completely reliant on external support. We achieve this by getting our internal personnel to get actively involved in each and every installation,” says Andrew.

Another exciting development has been to significantly upscale the capacity of the Cape Town and Durban branches in terms of building infrastructure. The extra capacity will come online within the first quarter of 2025. “This move also allows for significantly increased warehouse capacity in the Western Cape, especially in relation to our mineral products. It will ensure we have even larger quantities of product at the doorsteps of customers, especially for the wine filtration and farming sectors in this region,” highlights Andrew.

Pratley has also made a considerable investment in upgrading its training facilities over the last two years, as training and skills development remain a priority. “We offer in excess of 1 000 products, many of them for use in hazardous locations. These products must be selected correctly and installed by competent personnel or installers. This can only be done safely if personnel are well trained,” notes Andrew.

Pratley’s training facility provides this theoretical and practical product training, at no charge to customers. “We are passionate about safe electrical installations in hazardous locations where explosive atmospheres are present. Our training facility is world class.”

 “Training and education are the foundation for the future of South Africa. Strategically, we are also going to increase the number of training sessions we present in 2025, thanks to recent resourcing and upgrading of our world-class training facility,” says Andrew.

Looking ahead to 2025, Andrew remains optimistic about continued growth. “The further longer-term outlook for the economy is somewhat obscured due to all the moving parts of late, not only in South Africa but also what is playing out on the world stage.

“Certainly, there seems to be positive sentiment towards the Government of National Unity. However, it is still early days. Its stability and efficacy will be crucial. Interest rates and fuel prices have eased and brought some relief, which should put consumers and businesses on a better footing going into the New Year,” says Andrew.

However, he predicts that the success of 2025 will also be determined by how geopolitical tensions play out globally. “The new administration in the United States is going to be a key determinant of what happens next. As always, from a Pratley perspective, we will continue to do what we have always done and use our many strengths and capabilities to our advantage,” concludes Andrew.

Demand for solar PV solutions is outstripping supply as South African homes and businesses look to escape the impact of Eskom’s debilitating electricity tariff increases and power outages due to load shedding and municipal infrastructure failures.   

Before you rush into purchasing a solar solution, you need to take a considered and long-term view of how to get yourself as close to grid independence as possible, for the long term.  Any money spent on an unsuitable and poor-quality back-up solution – both in terms of equipment and installation – detracts from your ultimate objective of greater grid-independence and self-sufficiency. Don’t be lured into the many cheap solutions that are flooding the market, punted by drop-and-go shippers and unqualified installers who offer no back-up or support, and even less in terms of warranties on their products.

If you want to take a step-by-step approach to greater grid independence, it is important to start with a scalable, quality solar PV hybrid solution that takes care of your immediate needs, and allows you to scale up in future to self-generation by adding solar panels and additional battery storage if needed and as budget allows.

The big caveat here is that not all inverters and batteries offer this scalable functionality, so it’s essential to work with a renewable energy partner who is experienced and qualified in this field and understands and works with your medium and long-term objectives.  

The right size inverter, battery and panels is determined by doing an energy audit and monitoring of your electricity usage as well as peak loads (the most energy you draw at any one time).  Don’t accept a quote or system design without doing the proper groundwork.

90% Off grid versus 100% off-grid?

It’s important to understand the system design and temper expectations with going fully off grid. A system that takes care of 80-90% of your electricity needs is the best option from a financial perspective – with a connection to the grid to recharge the batteries during cloudy/rainy weather. 

The last 10% to get entirely off the grid can prove very costly. An entirely off-grid system would need to be sized at least three times larger than a grid-tied system that uses Eskom/council as a backup when there is extended inclement weather.  While adding a generator can charge up batteries, this comes with the ongoing costs of fuel, system maintenance and emissions.

Track record and technical expertise matters! 

Given the strategic importance of the decision you are making with regards to your electricity cost, supply and safety, as well as the quantum of your financial investment and expected ROI, work with a credible, qualified and accredited renewable energy partner that will be around for back-up, support and ongoing consultation over the lifespan of your system – that’s a good 20-25 years.

Far too many consumers are finding out that the result of going with cheap systems and questionable installers is poor system performance, outright failures of battery systems and a vicious cycle of constant ‘call backs’ and maintenance requirements – until the original installer simply does not come back to fix their shoddy work or goes belly-up, leaving you holding the can. In some of the worst cases, these fly-by-nights have disappeared with deposits, and the installations are an immediate fire and electrical risk to lives and properties.

The journey to greater grid independence is a big and important step and you need to be sure that the steps you take today are right for your needs down the line.  The proper installation and management of a solar PV system is a complex undertaking that requires a deep understanding and experience of the various technologies on the market, that are suited to the specific circumstances of every client and site. 

Visit our website at https://www.oneenergy.co.za/  and download our comprehensive checklist of all the considerations you should be looking at and the important questions to ask of any prospective solar installer.