DA's Plan for Growth and Jobs - Democratic Alliance

Policy outcome: Reduce carbon emissions and pollutionAssistance for local solar water heater manufacturersProvide assistance for local solar water heater manufacturers by: Waiving the SABS testingfees; allow individual component testing by SABS; and introduce a 50% differential rebateover imported systems. This will make it easier for domestic manufacturers to enter and gaina foothold in this important market.National Building Retrofit FundIntroduce a National Building Retrofit Fund administered by the new Department of NaturalResources to provide bridging finance to private sector companies to retrofit large buildingsfinanced by the savings on their electricity bills. The retrofit will focus on upgrade airconditioning,heating, insulation, lights, glass and geysers & water heaters based on an auditof potential savings.Policy outcome: Expand energy capacityDecentralise power productionMove Eskom’s current system operator, planning, power procurement, power purchasingand power contracting functions to an independent system and market operator. Eskom’stransmission assets may, over time, also be transferred to this separate entity, whilecapacity will be enhanced through the development of dynamic, frequently updatedindicative power and transmission plans and the expedited procurement from andcontracting of independent power producers (IPPs). Such procurement will also seek tostimulate the development of independent renewable energy suppliers and private sectorrenewable energy R&D. Amendments will also be made to the regulatory framework to allowfor ‘wheeling through the grid (where energy intensive users such as large companies will beable to contract with IPPs to source their electricity needs directly) and, where appropriate,allow for net metering in municipalities to enable households to generate their own energyand sell it to the grid.Resolve outstanding distribution problemsRing-fence the electricity distribution businesses of the 12 largest municipalities, resolvemaintenance and refurbishment backlogs and develop a financing plan, with acomplimentary programme investing in human capital in the energy sector.Revise National Electrification PlanRevise the national electrification plan to ensure 95% coverage by 2020 and 100% coverageby 2030 through an appropriate combination of on-grid and off-grid technologies. This isimperative for improving the lives of all South Africans, and ensuring that our country iscompetitive and is able to adapt to the latest technological developments.Develop a National Coal StrategyDevelop a long-term coal policy and country investment strategy based on a thoroughscientific assessment of South Africa’s coal reserves, the sustainable supply of domesticcoal needs to power high rates of economic growth and rapid industrial development, andthe sustainable expansion of coal export markets with the intention of gradually reducingcarbon intensity in the long-term.82 | P a g e