Zimbabwe to ban electric water heaters to save power

Zimbabwe is to ban the use of electric water heaters and require all newly built properties to use solar power, as it tries to tackle big power shortages. Energy officials say existing electric heaters – or geysers – will be phased out over the next five years. They hope to save up to 400 megawatts […]

Zimbabwe is to ban the use of electric water heaters and require all newly built properties to use solar power, as it tries to tackle big power shortages.
Energy officials say existing electric heaters – or geysers – will be phased out over the next five years.
They hope to save up to 400 megawatts of electricity – equivalent to the output of an electrical power plant.
Blackouts have dogged Zimbabwe, despite the fact that 60% of the population have no access to electricity.
Officials from the state-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution and Transmission Company say the government is expected to publish new regulations by end of the year.
It is estimated that there are up to 300,000 geysers across the country, with water heating accounting for some 40% of households’ electricity bills.