Eskom Wants to Switch People Onto Being Sensible With Power
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
February 4, 2005
Posted to the web February 4, 2005
Johannesburg
FACED with a power supply shortage in the next two years, Eskom together with the National Electricity Regulator and the minerals and energy department are set to embark on a year-long energy efficiency campaign aimed at raising awareness of the better management of electricity.
Based on an average annual increase in electricity demand of 2,5%, the current peaking capacity is projected to run out in 2007, followed by the base load in 2010.
Peaking capacity refers to available electricity during the hours of highest load, usually in the morning and in the evening.
Base load is power available around the clock.
Eskom said yesterday that electricity consumption in SA could rise more than 15% in the next 10 years if no pre-emptive action was taken. The utility said energy sales for the residential sector alone had increased to 20% in the past 10 years.
A growing economy and the rapid electrification programme of rural and urban households have placed a strain on Eskom's current surplus capacity, meaning that new capacity needs to be built urgently to avert widespread power outages in the future.
But because a new power station can cost up to R35bn and have a long lead time before being fully operational, Eskom and its partners said they have decided to run an awareness campaign to encourage efficient use of electricity.
Switching off appliances when not in use, using oil heaters, installing energy-efficient lights and installing geyser blankets are some of the energy-saving methods that could be used by consumers.
Eskom demand-management's new manager, Tsholo Matlala, said yesterday that the focus this year would be on the industry and commerce sectors .
"It is important to raise awareness that the more energy we use, the more power needs to be generated. The result is that more power stations need to be built, which will inevitably result in the consumer having to bear the cost (through high tariffs)," Matlala said.
Last year the energy-efficiency programme saved 197MW or R1,2bn . Matlala said using energy efficiently would save customers thousands of rands in bills.
Eskom said it had itself saved R9,2m between 1991 and 1999 by identifying areas where electricity usage could be optimised and better managed.
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The parastatal said many of its larger clients were also reaping the benefits of applying energy-saving methods by having their usage times shifted from peak to off-peak periods.
Matlala said even a small home could save about R360 a year or R4200 in case of a large home by using electricity efficiently.
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