City and R-Cities’ workshop sheds light on backyarder energy solutions

23 May 2023

The City of Cape Town’s 2022-2027 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) commits to alleviating energy poverty, including exploring Energy Service Innovation for backyarders in the metro. Today, 23 May 2023, the City and the Resilient-Cities Network facilitated a dialogue with various stakeholders as well as community-based organisations to discuss and share effective energy interventions for backyarders in the city. 

An estimated 210 000 households are living in backyard dwellings in the metro and many of these households are not receiving access to subsidies such as the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) that the City offers. The City's Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen attended the workshop where a number of interventions aimed at alleviating energy poverty for backyarders were discussed.

'We are pleased that today's workshop focused on the energy provision options and solutions for backyarders in the metro. The City remains committed to ensuring that no community is left behind and we are continuously seeking new interventions to providing electricity to those who need it the most in our communities. 

'These platforms bring to the fore the importance of social and economic justice through the facilitation of just and equitable service delivery as well as placing the most vulnerable in the metro at the centre of opportunity. We commend the Resilient-Cities Network and the City's Sustainable Energy Market department for their hard work in the Urban Power Programme, and our participation in this programme embodies the commitment to creating a City of Hope for all residents.

'In keeping with the City's commitment to seeking energy solutions, the Energy Directorate is also developing a policy framework to facilitate Free Basic Alternative Energy (FBAE) for residents in communities that cannot be electrified to the formal grid for a number of reasons. This includes that they have settled on privately-owned or uninhabitable land or in dense areas where it is not possible to install the electrical infrastructure. While many backyarders have some form of electricity connection, it is often unreliable, unaffordable and not properly regulated. Exploring alternative energy solutions is one of the City's latest initiatives. 

'The City is committed to continuing its engagement with backyarder communities and to seeking new and innovative solutions. This workshop is one of our first steps to finding actionable energy interventions for low income and energy vulnerable households and we look forward to identifying more levers to ease the burden of energy poverty in our communities,' said Councillor Van Reenen. 

Caption: Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office