Pay As You Go Solar by UberSolar – From R1,100/pm

UberSolar through Pay As You Go Solar has a unique offer for everyone that heats water in South Africa with an electric geyser.
Now for the first time, the savings on electric heating water can be used to fund a solar water heater over 24 months for almost the same cost as electricity.
After 24 months your electricity savings will result in your owning a solar water heater giving you huge financial savings for years to come.

We understand that cash is tight and electricity prices are painfully high and going up annually.
We have a solution that will help you today and in the future.
Pay As You Go Solar enables you to reduce your monthly electricity bill by typically 40% and for the electricity cost savings to be used for the payment of a monthly installment for your solar system.
Water heating is typically around 40% (as per the pie chart) of your total electricity bill.

From as little as R1,100 monthly over 24 months, you can own your solar water heating system that will give you enormous financial savings for many years to come.
It is simple, just meet the criteria and we will install your 24 tube solar retrofit.
On the UberSolar website, there are extensive educational videos and further information.
With regards to Pay As You Go Solar the following questions and answers generally address all the questions we receive.
To make the Questions and Answers (hopefully logical) we have broken them into 3 sections, Pre-Installation, Installation and Post Installation.

Pricing For Pay As You Go Solar Hot Water Heating Retrofits

Description	24 Months @ Rand pm	24 Month Flat Roof Cost pm	KWH Deemed Daily Saving	Hot Water Litres Output at 40°C	Projected Payback
150l Geyser Retrofit 24 EVT+ WiFi Geyser Controller	R1,100	R1,140	7.67	276	27 Months
150l Geyser Retrofit 24 EVT + WiFi Geyser Controller + NightSolar	R1,250	R1,300	9.2	331	26 Months
150l Geyser Retrofit 30 EVT + WiFi Geyser Controller	R1,300	R1,350	9.9	356	25 Months
150l Geyser Retrofit 30 EVT + WiFi Geyser Controller + NightSolar	R1,450	R1,500	11.88	428	23 Months
200l Geyser Retrofit 30 EVT + WiFi Geyser Controller	R1,300	R1,350	9.9	356	25 Months
200l Geyser 30 EVT + WiFi Geyser Controller +NightSolar	R1,450	R1,500	11.88	428	23 Months

Pre-Installation - Questions and Answers

Q: What’s the catch?
There isn’t one.
Q: What about other sizes of geysers?
We offer the no deposit 24-month instalment plan for 150-litre geysers from R1,100 per month, and for 200-litre electric geysers retrofitted with 30 tubes from R1,300 per month.
Q: What is the warranty?
The warranty on the solar components is 5 years and 2 years on the pumps, with full service and maintenance included in the instalment period.
Q: What if I rent my home?
We will not enter into an agreement with you unless you own your home. If you are renting, we can enter into an agreement with your landlord who becomes the legal entity that enters into the instalment contract.
Q: What about installing systems on flat roofs?
No problem. There will be a small adjustment in the monthly instalment plan to include the extra cost of the Rear Legs Kit.
Q: What about pre-installation site visits?
Upon application and completion of the quote form, we look at your home on Google Maps and can see whether your home is suitable. (We cannot do thatch roofs). We may on rare occasions charge a site visit fee which will be refunded if the instalment plan goes ahead.
Q: What about WiFi?
It is a condition that you have and maintain constant WiFi in your home for the UberTrac Online Controller to provide the necessary electric backup and solar controls.
Q: What are the qualifications for the Instalment Plan?
Applicants may be accepted or rejected following assessment.
As essential criteria to qualify:
a) you must own your own house.
b) you must have WiFi and constant Internet connection.
c) you must have a bank account and supply your last 3 months’ summary bank statement information in PDF not older than 7 days.
We may also need:
a) copies of your electricity bills for 3 months and
b) confirmation of your employment.
We will require either a signed copy of the contract between us or your first monthly instalment will act as confirmation of your agreement to the terms and conditions of the contract.
Q: Will I always have heating back up?
Your electric element will remain connected and the timing ON/OFF will be controlled by the UberTrac controller. So yes, you will always have backup heating except if your electricity is disconnected or there is load-shedding.
Q: How does retrofitting work?
We recommend you watch the video. https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/547863306
In summary,
1) we connect to the plumbing on the cold water side of the geyser,
2) pump water from there using a 12v DC pump and 10 Watt PV panel to the solar collector, in which there is a heat exchanger, collecting the heat from the solar irradiation, and
3) then the pumped water is returned to the geyser.
Over the day’s heating period of 6-10 hours (depending on the season), the high-pressure water in the geyser heats up.
Q: What do you do if my geyser is old
Most electric geysers are OK to retrofit.
If your geyser is more than 15 years old we will advise you before we start installing. You may have to replace your existing geyser with a new one.We use a standard solar-ready electrical geyser from Ariston /Heattech or Electrolux/Kwikot as seen in plumbers merchants and Builders merchants.
Q: How much will you save over 5, 10 or 20 years?
The investment returns are ridiculous when compared to any other investments because the price of electricity can only increase.
Assuming 10% annual inflation in electricity prices, expect an investment return greater than 700% on the cost of the total instalment plan over 10 years.
Q: How much electricity will I save?
The 24 tube (EVT’s) unit has a deemed efficiency of 100% electricity replacement on an average Johannesburg day.
But you will use more electricity in winter as the days are shorter, the sun is lower in the sky and the water is colder.
In summer you should use almost no electricity backup, except for those extended overcast or very rainy days.
Over 12 months we expect to save in excess of 90% of the electricity that would be used for heating water.
Q: How much is the Monthly Instalment Cost vs Electricity Savings?
We take a typical cost per kWh in 2023, being all the costs on a monthly bill including VAT, and divide that by the kWhs used.
In Johannesburg (Eskom) that typically works out (for over 600kWh per month) at R3,82 per kWh increasing to R4,30 per kWh in 2024. The monthly instalment cost is very similar to the likely financial monthly savings.
Q: How Do you Calculate the Savings
The UberTrac Online Controller monitors everything and calculates the electrical savings.
We cannot guarantee exactly how much electricity you will save as it depends on your home’s individual washing requirements.
Q: How do I apply?
Please complete the quote form https://ubersolar.co.za/quote-me/ and state in the notes that you are looking for the 24-month instalment plan.
Q: How Do you Communicate?
Via email, but our preference is WhatsApp as we can see that the messages have been received and read. (The content of the message is encrypted and it is quicker and easier.) We also available to chat verbally via cell and WhatsApp calls.

Installation - Question and Answers

Q: How long does an installation take?
Typically, a morning should there be no complications.
Q: How long (time) to install after first monthly instalment?
Installation will normally be within a week of the cleared funds in our bank account. You will be advised upon our receipt of your first instalment.
Q: What about installation extras?
If following a site visit or discussion on your home installation, there are extras that will need to be charged for in addition to the normal installation, we will agree with you first and payment will need to be made separate to the installation payment schedule.
Q: What normally happens during installation
We rarely go into the home, with most installations taking place through the roof. We will not start an installation unless the plumbing is compliant.
In such event, we advise the client of the requirements and the likely costs to make the plumbing compliant. Any additional COC’s will be charged for as a separate cost.
Q: What about insuring the solar system?
We recommend that you do advise your insurer that you have installed a solar water heating system, as you will be liable for the balance of the agreed installment plan in the event your solar sytem is stolen or damaged. There should be no additional premium. (You will be liable for the balance of all instalments in the event your solar system is damaged or stolen.)

Post-Installation - Question and Answers

Q: What is my monthly instalment?
Your monthly instalment will be stated on the contractual agreement between us. There may be a second 12 months inflationary charge not exceeding 10% in addition to the amount on the first 12 months instalments.
Q: What happens if my Direct Debit fails?
We will resubmit 48 hours later. If it fails again, we will turn off your hot water (both solar and electric) until your account is brought up to date. If you continue to default, we will take steps to remove the system that remains our property until all instalments have been paid.
Q: What happens if I have a financial crisis?
Call us – DO NOT HIDE YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND. We understand, and we can try and assist you help to make a plan.
Q: What about Repossession?
Should you default on the instalment payment terms, we will take the necessary steps to repossess your solar system, list you with credit agencies and further more take legal action.
Q: What is the process for repairs?
Ring the number on your contract or contact us on the website.
Q: What About Service and Maintenance?
We monitor all systems. Should your WiFi fail, you will receive an email or WhatsApp message as we can see if your system is underperforming. When a repair is necessary we will arrange a call out, normally within 24 hours.
Q: What about leaks and repairs at my home?
Although rare, leaks can occur either immediately or sometime later after the installation. When we are notified of a leak or a problem, we will advise you what to do and arrange for a repair team to visit normally within 24 hours.
Q: What happens if I sell my house?
The system must remain on the house for the duration of the agreed 24 months installation plan. If the house is sold either the original owner will continue to be liable for the installments or the new owner of the house must assume the instalments liability.
Q: What happens if the owner dies?
If the owner dies within the first 24 months, their estate will be liable for the continued instalment payments.
Q: What if I have a burst geyser?
A burst or leaking geyser can occur at any time and has nothing to do with the solar installation. If it happens withing a few hours or days of the solar installation it is purely coincidental.
Q: What is the process following a burst geyser?
We recommend that you call your insurance company and advise them. They will frequently appoint an assessor to inspect the geyser.Most insurers are happy to provide a cash payment for the replacement of your burst geyser or they will appoint a panel plumber to come and replace the failed unit.
We are prepared to write a letter to your insurer following inspection of the unit to advise that it has burst (or not) and to supply and install a new geyser on your behalf in exchange for payment from you.
Q: What about reliability and maintenance?
The solar systems have been proven over many years and are very reliable requiring minimal maintenance. The glass tubes may need to be washed every 3 or 4 years if there has been a dirt build up.
Q: What about after sales service?
We pride ourselves on after sales service. Repair times are normally undertaken within 24 hours. If an emergency repair is required and we are unable to get to you on the same day, we can advise you telephonicall what to do.
Q: What about lightning?
Most of the time it does not cause a problem. The UberTrac computer can be damaged in the same way as a television or other computer if your house is subject to a direct hit.
Q: What about hail storms?
We have only lost very few tubes over the last 10 years due to hail damage. In such event we can come and replace the tubes which only takes a few minutes.
Q: What if I want to move the system to a new house?
The system cannot be moved in the first 24 months following installation. When the system is owned (after 24 months if all payments have been made) it can be moved to another property at your own expense.
Q: When do I get the title deed?
The ownership and title deed will be transferred at the end of the 24 months subject to all instalments being paid in full.
Q: How long are repair times?
Normally undertaken within 24 hours and hopefully the same day.
Q: What about my sales invoice?
A Tax invoice will only be sent following completion of all instalments being paid.
Q: What about a statement?
We can issue statements to you on a quarterly basis when requested reflecting payments to date and outstanding balance.