• Local company Peco Power recently launched its Champion Model in Nomzamo Agricultural Village, Mpumalanga.
• This model gives residents access to a PowerBrick at the subsidised price of R99 for 12 months.
• After 12 months the resident owns the PowerBrick which is capable of powering a light and charging a cell phone.

Despite loadshedding‘s abatement in recent months, experts continue to highlight that South Africa is still deep in the energy crisis woods. As if to highlight this, Eskom last week announced that load reduction would be implemented.

Sadly, load reduction tends to hit areas where low-income individuals live as often, these areas are beset by electricity theft, running the risk of overloading transformers and other infrastructure. This leaves these areas without electricity and without backup power, there is a degree of danger for residents in the area nevermind the lack of electricity for things like cooking.

To address this local company Peco Power has recently launched an innovative approach to democratising access to reliable back up power. Dubbed, the Champion Model, Peco Power offered solar powered backup power solutions to residents in Nomzamo Agricultural Village, Mpumalanga for an incredibly low fee.

For just R99 per month over 12 months, residents in Nomzamo receive a Peco Power PowerBrick which is recharged using solar power. The PowerBrick is capable of powering a light and charging a cell phone. The Champion Model is facilitated by GreenCape in partnership with the Royal Dutch Embassy which supported the initative.

“We are excited to launch this integrated initiative in Nomzamo, which combines access to clean energy through economic empowerment,” said Dorian Wrigley, CEO of Peco Power. “Our Champion Model not only addresses energy poverty but also creates opportunities for community members to become owners of sustainable energy enterprises.”

The hope here is that with access to the PowerBrick, residents of the village can climb the energy ladder. Furthermore, paying a bill every month is a good way to inadvertently teach people about good financial habits and could potentially help owners build up a reputation with other lenders and financial service providers.

Peco Power says that residents will also receive training and support as well as compensation that enables them to operate as entrepreneurs within their community. This approach not only fosters local economic growth but also strengthens community resilience by creating sustainable energy infrastructure managed by local residents.

Let’s hope this Champion Model extends to other areas of the country as well so that fewer places are engulfed in darkness when power cuts hit.

[Image – Dennis Gries from Pixabay]