Business Day (Johannesburg)
21 January 2008
SA MUST cut its overall electricity consumption 20% as soon as possible to cope with a power shortage which has led to a spate of blackouts in the past week, a senior Eskom official has said.
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South Africa needs to cut it "peak" consumption by 20%. There is plenty of power when you are sleeping. Modifying consumption time-of-use patterns is much quicker than new build power stations. Management of this DSM issue falls squarely with Eskom and government needs to treat the problem like a "war emergency". All solutions should be explored. The investigations and blame game can be for later. Otherwise not all the South African population may be able to see the 2010 World Cup on TV.