A Survey of Home Energy Management Systems and their Efficacy in South Africa

In 2022, South Africa experienced a total of 3776 hours of power outages, commonly known as load shedding. This had a significant economic impact, with estimates from the South African Reserve Bank suggesting a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) loss ranging from 0.7% to 3.2%. To address this issue, various initiatives are currently being implemented, including the implementation of renewable energy projects, effective maintenance of existing infrastructure, and a proposal to introduce smart meters to address challenges related to demand-side management (DSM). The electricity market in South Africa is transforming, and this is leading to the emergence of potential technologies that can help address the aforementioned challenges. One such technology is the Home Energy Management System (HEMS). This paper surveys this technology and assesses its potential effectiveness in the South African context.