outh Africa’s supply-constrained electricity sector is likely to remain constrained for another five to ten years, while renewable energy is gaining popularity. But even though renewable energy is becoming cost effective to generate, it cannot supply a base load and storage capacity is needed to ensure that the supply is there when needed. So efforts to save electricity and to ensure that supply meets demand remain high on the agenda.

The focus of our conference in sharing research findings has moved from a time when electricity was cheap and in abundance, to the anxious time of electricity outages to the dramatic increase in the cost of electricity today. During the time of abundance and also during the time of energy shortages we worked on incentives to use energy wisely. The motivating factor is always that resources must be used in a sustainable way which of course makes the use of renewable energy all the more important. But in addition we have a strong economic factor to save on electricity costs by improving efficiency and saving energy.

Over the past 23 years the “Domestic Use of Energy Conference” (DUE) has presented a forum for professionals, practitioners and end-users in all fields of domestic energy to discuss the latest developments in the effective use of energy in the residential sector. The importance of energy conservation is now widely recognised, especially as South Africa is facing rapidly increasing energy costs. Although generating capacity is increasing, there is great benefit in doing everything possible to reduce the increase in demand. Energy conservation through efficiency has always been high on the agenda of the DUE conferences.

The issues now addressed at DUE include sustainable energy provision; smart control systems, appropriate legislation and its implementation; the role of renewables; off -grid electricity supply. These challenges are particularly marked in the rural and remote areas of developing countries. Papers and workshops are targeted at establishing problem-solving partnerships where suppliers, distributors and users of energy, together with academia, will aim to speed up the provision and effective use of residential energy. Energy efficiency, consumer attitudes and behaviour, education and marketing are but a few of the factors that will be debated in detail at the conference.