Pretoria - Tshwane residents are irritated about being asked to use electricity sparingly.
After enduring a week of power interruptions due to other restrictions, followed on Sunday by the latest stage 6 electricity cuts, they have now been urged by the City to play a part in ensuring the meagre supply available is made available to everybody.
But some frustrated residents are questioning what electricity the City is referring to, because they are not getting it. Exacerbating the frustration felt by both residents and the City itself is that theft, vandalism and damage to infrastructure continues during the power cuts, making the job of supplying power even more challenging.
MMC for Utility Services and Regional Operations Daryl Johnston said every resident and South African was now aware of the seriousness of the situation.
“The City of Tshwane Energy and Electricity Department and our electricity teams from the Regional Operations and Co-ordination Department are working flat out to manage this energy crisis, to keep our network running and to repair damage caused directly by load shedding and by vandalism and theft.
“The trend where our network is being deliberately targeted during load shedding by criminals to either steal or vandalise infrastructure is continuing, and we continue to work with our security teams to meet this challenge.
He said the City now needed to look at energy-reduction measures, as businesses and residents all contribute to reducing pressure on the grid.
“I would like to appeal to all Tshwane residents to use electricity sparingly. Basic energy-saving tips include switching off appliances at the wall and unplugging chargers. This could save up to 6% on power costs.
“Turn down geyser temperatures to 60ºC. This can save up to 5% on one’s electricity bill. Fit geysers with geyser blankets to prevent heat loss. Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy-saving ones. Set pool pumps to run fewer hours.”
He said these everyday measures are needed to reduce the load so more severe load-shedding is not needed. The City was grateful to residents for everything they were doing to assist – from saving electricity to protecting assets.
Residents in Soshanguve have used scrap metal to cover and protect electrical cable, while residents in Bronkhorstspruit caught three people trying to steal a transformer.
In Lebanon, Mabopane, residents contributed money and hired a boilermaker to build a cage to protect transformers from Winterveld residents, who wanted to connect themselves to their grid after Eskom disconnected them following high levels of electricity theft and the bypassing of meters.
The recent request to conserve electricity has upset already frustrated people, who are asking how they can be asked to save something they do not have. In some communities electricity was switched back on after 12pm for only 30 minutes.
This was the case in several communities at the weekend, with the schedule only being correct about time the electricity would be off.
Resident Mapule Dlamini said: “Conserve which energy? Group 1 has been without electricity since 8am till now. This is too much.”
Muney Vinolia said: “How are people going to save the energy … because once the electricity comes back everyone rushes to cook and bath?”
Susan Ferreira said: “It is unfair and messed up to expect us to have load shedding for eight hours yesterday and certain people do not have it because they are in the highest post and get all the money for the poorest service delivery.
“And you load shed, but still everything breaks. It shows clearly this does not work and nothing will.”
Cherlyn Makhadi said: “Group 5 electricity was taken from 8 in the morning till 12.30pm, but again around 1pm. It means we had electricity for 30 minutes and then boom! off again.”
Michael Mguni said: “To use electricity sparingly just make sure all street lights are off during the day because there are more than 4 000 street lights that are on all day, all week. Do your job, please.”
Pretoria News