Electricity

LOAD SHEDDING ON THE CARDS

eThekwini Municipality press release, July 30, 2008. Following ESKOM's announcement that one unit in Koeberg had been switched off in recent weeks, pressure on the electricity network has increased. "This has necessitated eThekwini Electricity to take the unfortunate decision to put all its citizens on alert for load shedding," said Sandile Maphumulo, the Head of eThekwini Electricity. Read more.

Download the load-shedding schedule here.

Electricity Savings Tips

  • Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs. Note that there is considerable debate about this. While we agree that this will save electricity in South Africa, the manufacturing processes reportedly consume far more electricity than for incandescent lights. Further, CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights) need to be treated correctly otherwise they could well be cost you a lot more over time. We do concede that we are not experts at this, so it is recommended that you do your own research. Email us for some pointers.
  • Use timer switches on geysers. Note that many experts disagree about this, and it may come down to your usage patterns.
  • Boil only the water you need.
  • Use a microwave instead of an oven.
  • Switch lights off when not needed.
  • Use solar cellphone chargers.
  • Install solar water-heating.
  • Use a solar-powered stove/cooker.
  • Install a photovoltaic generator.

Visit Sunfire Solar Energy Agency for more information on products using solar energy.