It’s a rather outlandish question: Would you let Eskom control your electricity meter if it meant an end to load-shedding? Essentially, the grid comes under most pressure in the morning and evening when people are either getting ready or coming home from their day.
TRENDING: New SANTACO e-hailing APP coming SOON
If Eskom could control your electricity meter in high-use times, it would be able to regulate peak consumption and the stability of the grid. We’re perhaps too used to government-mandated bedtimes through load-shedding, but what about full control of your electricity meter? Ie. controlling your geyser and what appliances you can use …?
ESKOM CONTROLS ELECTRICITY METERS
It’s no joke, according to Daily Investor, Eskom can remotely control household electricity consumption. The power utility already has a pilot program running in Fourways using what it calls ‘smart meters’.
ALSO READ: Increase for SASSA grants come into effect 1 October 2023
Smart meters and remote control are just some of the plans outlined by Eskom at its monthly briefing on how to lessen long-term load-shedding. Monde Bala, Eskom group executive for distribution, said the rollout of smart meters will ramp up in 2024. It wants to install a smart meter in every South African household, at the cost R16 billion over four years.
SMART METERS
The proposed smart meters can reduce the current in a household from 60 amps to 10 amps. This will still allow the use of basic appliances like lights, TV and Wi-Fi router, but nothing else. In turn, the reduced load means other areas can remain on and functional.
However, energy-intensive appliances such as geysers, microwaves, and kettles are out.
ALSO READ: How to APPLY for a SASSA child grant
Eskom explained that households consume roughly 35% of Eskom’s power capacity during peak times. Out of peak times this falls to 16%. Half of this peak consumption is from geysers. So, Eskom essentiallys wants to control how much water we’re heating up.
HOW MUCH WILL THEY COST?
The proposed Eskom smart meters will cost approximately R3 000 to install, which the power utility says will be recouped back in just five months.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES FROM RAY LEATHERN
