City Power will roll out the installation of solar geysers in Alexandra’s Ward 76 from August 28.
The City of Johannesburg power entity spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, confirmed and said the project is part of City Power’s load reduction initiatives, focusing on cutting down household electricity consumption.
He said the solar geyser rollout will start in Ward 76, where councillor Zandile Mothupi, together with City Power, has already identified and compiled a list of all beneficiaries in her ward under the Expanded Social Package (ESP) programme.
The project will also be rolled out in other wards across Alexandra in the next few weeks in a phased manner with details to be shared with affected community leaders and ward councillors in due course, Mangena said.
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The programme will prioritise indigent households, including child-headed households, orphaned children, the disabled, and the unemployed. “Part of the package is that all beneficiaries must have smart meters installed alongside the solar geysers. This is a crucial requirement and if it is not met, we will be left with no choice but to remove that customer from the list of beneficiaries,” Mangena said.
He said the initiative aligns with their ongoing efforts to promote renewable energy through their alternative energy solutions programmes by incorporating renewable energy sources like solar power into the grid.
“The programme aims to reduce our dependence on traditional power sources, and diversification reduces reliance on a single power source, thereby diminishing the risk of overloading specific energy systems.
“A total of 626 solar high masts have been installed and commissioned. These have been installed in various areas across the City of Johannesburg in both City Power and Eskom-supplied areas in the 2023/2024 financial year.
“As a result, this project will assist with consumption management by reducing peak demand for electricity, as these solar geysers will help alleviate the strain on the network, especially in high-density areas that are currently experiencing load reduction measures,” Mangena added.
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He pointed out that on average, water heating contributes up to 70% of household energy consumption and that this process will benefit customers by reducing their electricity costs exponentially and added that it was therefore in every customer’s best interest to allow the agents entry into their houses.
City Power encourages residents to co-operate with the installation teams, and insists that they must verify the identities of all personnel.
Details: City Power customer contact centre 011 490 7484/0800 202 925.
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