Presentation by John Notoane of OneWorld at the CHOICES project community energy workshops in Somerset East, Pearston and Cookhouse communities, Blue Crane Route Municipality in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, held in February and March 2013. The presentation covers the results of a community energy survey carried out in the Blue Crane Route Municipality. More information about OneWorld: http://www.oneworldgroup.co.za/ Further details of the CHOICES project: http://www.iied.org/choices-community-energy-project-south-africa

1. CHOICES SA – Community Knowledge Sharing
and Energy Needs Workshop
Survey Analysis Results

2. Purpose
1. Share BCRM energy survey results –
for understanding and discussion
2. Only highlights from initial analysis –
still more to follow and share
3. Bases of next steps to Choices –
looking at Menu of Energy Options
4. Create a baseline for energy access –
status quo to measure future impacts
Share Your Views

3. 1. BCRM Social Profile
62% of energy purchase and use
decisions are made by women
88% of households have 1 or 2 children at
school
Energy economy is cash based, no credit
is used (or available)
About 56% of respondents have cell
phones
How can women
be empowered
to participate
in realising
better energy
access options
and to save on
energy costs?

4. 2. Household Income & Expenditure on
Energy
89% of households - income is R2500
per month
40% of people rely on social grants
Households in rural areas tend to exist in
higher income brackets
Income and
expenditure –
affordability for
energy
services?

5. 2. Income comparison BCRM urban vs rural
(farms)
Unexpected – rural
higher bracket?
Do urban
households have
a mix of work
that isn’t fully
captured here?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
799 1,399 2,499 4,999 7,999 10,999
Percentageofhouseholds
Income categories (R/month)
Urban
Rural

6. 3. Payment energy services between rural
and urban households
Given rural
income is
higher, can
they afford to
increase
energy
expenditure to
improve quality
of life?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 50 100 200 300 400 500 >600
Numberofhouseholds
Rands per month
Urban
Rural

7. 4. Primary Sources Used
Understanding
opportunity to
transition to
modern fuels?
0
50
100
150
200
250
Electricity Paraffin LP gas Firewood
Numberofhouseholds

8. Cooking
Majority
electricity –
easy – but
expensive?
Mbaula – low
efficiency and
health hazard –
opportunity?
Cooking Percentage of
Households
Electricity 62
Paraffin 15
LP gas 3
Firewood 19

9. Space Heating
Consider the
impact of
health and
temperature
comfort -
insulation
could be
opportunity?
Space heating Percentage of
Households
Electricity 25
Paraffin 8
LP gas 0
Firewood 64

10. Lighting
How much light in
hrs per day
does rural
community
enjoy?
Cost of inefficient
lighting?
Lighting Fraction of
Households
Electricity 0.72
Paraffin 0.08
LP gas 0.00
Firewood 0.00
Candles 0.20

11. Water Heating
Electricity is the
preferred method
for water heating
(61% of
households)
Solar water heating
emerging?
Water heating Fraction of
Households
Electricity 0.61
Paraffin 0.14
Solar 0.05
LP gas 0.01
Firewood 0.19

12. Free Basic Electricity
Which energy
fuels do
households use
when the free
basic electricity is
finished – can
energy efficiency
makes it last
longer
Free Basic Electricity (FBE),
55% of these users run out of
their FBE allocation in the first
two weeks
87% have run out within three
weeks (21 days).

13. Survey Key Points
Low levels of income indicate affordability is key. Yet:
• Urban: 88% use more than FBE, electricity considered
expensive: case for increased efficiency and substituting
electricity where possible – particularly for cooking?
• Rural: firewood is widely used and time intensive, electricity
availability low, income slightly higher: case for improved
cooking, range of solar lighting options?
• Both: Linking opportunities for income generation to energy
use could be a win-win for both addressing energy needs
and increased income. But these opportunities need
exploring and mapping out.

14. Discussion