Smart meters to potentially wipe out load shedding

Load limiting is the latest buzz word in Johannesburg, following the much-loathed term in South Africa, load shedding. Zesuliwe Hadebe attended a media briefing by officials at the launch of smart meters and the concept of load limiting at Aspen Nature Estate.

Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau together with City Power MD, Sicelo Xulu, MMC of Environment Infrastructure Service Department, Cllr Matshidiso Mfikoe and City Power Chairperson Frank Chikane launched the load limiting trial project at Aspen Hills on April 14.

Executive Mayor, Cllr Parks Tau said at a media briefing: “Aspen Hills was a test site for smart meters,” also stating that the City is currently in public consultation process on tariffs.

City Power MD Sicelo Xulu noted that if consumers do not participate in the project, it would be unlikely to succeed. “The aim is keeping the lights on in Johannesburg when it’s time for load shedding,” said Xulu.

Eighty-four smart meters were installed at Aspen Hills, with one home owner at Aspen Nature Estate telling journalists that the meters has worked accordingly to the way officials said it would.

Cllr Tau believes smart meters will empower residents to control power usage in their households through partnering with City Power to reduce the potential for load shedding when the power grid is under constraint.

The meters will send an SMS to the consumer alerting them to switch off essential appliances such as the geyser. A beeping sound and a 30 second power outage will occur through the smart meter should the consumer not comply. This will happen until the final alert, thereafter non-compliance load shedding will be implemented by the smart meter.

Go to www.comarochronicle.co.za for videos on the presentation by City Power MD on how load limiting and smart meters will help consumers.