Khulu Phasiwe, Public Policy Correspondent
30 April 2004
Johannesburg — FACED with a power supply shortage in the next three years, Eskom and its partners are to embark on a month-long campaign to raise awareness of better electricity management.
Based on an average 2,5% annual increase in demand , the current peaking capacity is projected to run out in 2007, followed by the base load in 2010.
Growing electricity demand has placed strain on Eskom's current surplus capacity, meaning new capacity has to be built to avert future power outages.
Switching off computers, installing energy-efficient lighting, using oil heaters and installing geyser blankets are some of the energy-saving methods consumers could apply during energy efficiency month next month.
Eskom said yesterday that electricity use in SA could climb more than 15% in the next decade without pre-emptive steps.
"It is important to raise the public's awareness that the more energy we use, the more power needs to be generated," said Andrew Etzinger, Eskom's GM of demand-side management. "The result is more power stations need to be built, which will inevitably result in the consumer having to bear the cost (through high tariffs)."
Etzinger said using energy efficiently also saved clients thousands in electricity bills.
Eskom said it saved R9,2m between 1991 to 1999 by pinpointing where electricity usage could be better managed. Many commercial and industrial clients were also reaping benefits of applying energy-saving methods and shifting their huge energy usage times from peak to off-peak periods. Peak periods are 7am-10am and 6pm-8pm.
Eskom said energy sales for the residential sector alone had increased fivefold to 20% during the past decade. in the past ten years.
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