Review of appliance energy savings in light of South Africa´s delayed Standards & Labelling (S&L) Programme

The residential sector is the second largest consumer of electricity in South Africa (17.2%) with major implications for demand side management. Its contribution to peak loads often causes supply exigencies and the shortfall is sourced through peaking plants at great expense. With large electricity tariff increases since 2008, households need ways to reduce consumption. A strong argument exists for the use of efficient appliances. A mandatory Standards and Labelling (S&L) Programme is being implemented in South Africa and is due to come into effect in 2015. S&L was considered in the 1990s, included in the White Paper on Energy Policy (1998) and listed as a priority in the 2005 National Energy Efficiency Strategy. Significant resistance from stakeholders has delayed the implementation of the programme. Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) have now been set and will come into effect on the 28^th of August, 2015. Given the long delay, will these MEPS yield savings or has the market already adjusted and are the energy savings already being realised? A scenario-based analysis of the saving potential of efficient refrigerators and freezers was undertaken which looks at the consequences of the delay in implementing the S&L programme. Based on the findings, the market seems to already contain efficient refrigeration appliances that are on or above the proposed MEPS and the recommendation is that an upward revision of the MEPS can be done sooner rather than later.