CONSUMER PERSPECTIVES: DO SOLAR HOME SYSTEMS PROVIDE INFERIOR LIFESTYLES TO LOW-INCOME RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN KWAZULU-NATAL?

摘要

Maphephetheni was the first rural area with Photovoltaic (PV) installations in KwaZulu-Natal. Grid electricity was available from 2001, providing households with both Solar Home Systems (SHSs) and grid experience in the same households. This small in-depth survey was done to reflect on the experiences of the low-income households with both SHS and grid electricity. The specific objectives of the study included the following: ? To compare the equipment connected to both systems; ? To compare the changes of lifestyle when accessing the ? To compare the satisfaction level of households for both ? To identify whether households saw SHSs as an inferior Half of the households preferred SHS to grid electricity, and all households were very content about the working of the SHS, while there were some complaints about the erratic functioning of the grid. The equipment used with electricity increased (kettles, cell phone chargers, an iron and a video recorder), as did the number of lights in use. Refrigeration, cooking, water heating did not change because they already had gas refrigerators; cooking and water heating was still mostly done with kerosene. There was neither more homework done nor more social activities enjoyed since the grid connection. Grid electricity costs (on a prepay system) were the cause of much family strife between parents and children and between husband and wife. She was expected to control the use of electricity and took the brunt for high monthly payments. Preference for SHSs was mainly financially based because this electricity was now free.