Electricity utility Eskom is to launch a major energy conservation campaign next month in an effort to reduce consumption and relieve the current strain on power transmission and distribution facilities, the government announced on Wednesday.
The campaign will be ”more intense” in the Western Cape, government communications spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe told journalists at a briefing following Cabinet’s fortnightly meeting.
”Noting that May will be observed as Energy Month, the government wishes to call on all South Africans to use energy in an efficient and socially-responsible way,” he said.
While the country had sufficient capacity to manage very high demand peaks, ”the reality is that a higher rate of growth and broadening of access have placed a strain particularly on transmission to the Western Cape, and on distribution infrastructure in some metropolitan areas”.
While in the past, South Africa had an excess supply of electricity, people now had to become more and more conscious of conserving energy.
However, ”we’re not talking here of a crisis”, Netshitenzhe said.
The supply of electricity in the Western Cape has been plagued by problems in recent months, including damage to one of the Koeberg nuclear power station’s generators, and the institution of ”rolling” blackouts when demand exceeds supply.
Netshitenzhe said the campaign would include interaction with major consumers on load-shedding, and an examination of the ways in which domestic demand for electricity could be reduced, including switching off hot water geysers and the fitting of energy-saving light bulbs. — Sapa