The new price list released this month indicates that you can now purchase a inverter and battery cheaper than what people paid for just a battery back in 2023.

Just as I predicated was going to happen has become a reality, its a copy of 2008.

Load shedding hit us with a bang, generator prices went through the roof and people climbed on the band wagon and made millions, some didn't see the writing on the wall and invested tons of cash (millions), suddenly one morning load shedding stopped but as fast as the containers were arriving, so the orders were being cancelled, and so the smart people made millions and the not so smart people lost millions.

Companies continued to install generators in fear that the load shedding would continue.

We identified a couple of things that required attention and so the regs where updated which is how the standby regs came about in the SANS book.

The suicide cord became a reality and I see it is still used to this day, a quick plug top to plug top connection and you have power in the house.

A scary fact, what you were paying for just the inverter, battery and 6 panels in 2023, you can now get a full system installed, including labour and a COC for R20 k cheaper.

The going price for a 5 kw system in 2023 was around R15k if installed installed properly with the essential and non essential split, now you can have the same system installed for less than half around R70 k

the solar industry has become a lot like the aircon industry, you have a company which sells the units, then the cheapest subbbies are used to install the units, the only difference is that you have a person who signs off the job and another that register the system with the council.

When you have a problem, you realize you get what you pay and that's when the fight starts

The big question is it a good time to buy solar?

Watching the prices decrease by the month, I would say hold onto your money, I know there is a 10% tax levy coming, and big changes to registration, penalties and fees heading our way, so I would say unless there is a problem with the coal supply I would wait a little longer.

I almost bought a 5 kw inverter and a 5 kwh battery because they are now cheaper for both together than we were selling just the battery, 6 months ago.

I believe they will keep going down until they get to a realistic price.

Just watch out for load shedding, if it starts, best you buy quickly because the price go up with the demand.

Looking atA decent 5 kw inverter shouldnt cost you more that R15000, but could drop even more if there is no demand, dont let people bullshyte you with the exchange rate, it was all about supply and demand.

Just remember all those massive warehouses full of equipment cost money and huge overheads

I suspect we are going to see a lot of really good specials heading our way

I dont even think the 10 % solar tax will effect the pricing that much, until there is a demand.