The Department of Minerals and Energy is working on regulations to govern “the norms and standards” of energy appliances so as to reduce the use of energy, Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of her budget vote, currently being debated in Parliament, the minister acknowledged that people would be obligated “to be energy efficient”.
“We are coming up with norms and standards for a number of appliances. We are going to regulate the industry,” she told journalists.
She said in her budget vote that by October this year her department intended to introduce “a piece of legislation” that would mandate provision of energy data and the use of healthy, safe, energy efficient and energy friendly appliances.
“A key aspect of this piece of legislation will be the creation of entities that will promote energy efficiency, renewable energies, energy planning and environmental protection. These plans will have minimal impact unless all consumers take a conscious decision to use energy efficiently.”
Sonjica said that a campaign with Eskom and other state organs would target ordinary households and industrial consumers “with a view to influencing prudent consumer behavioural patterns without negatively impacting on the economy”. — I-Net Bridge