It is a slap in the face for residents. It shows bad governance, bad planning and bad management – but it is what it is and there is nothing we ordinary people can do about it.
Load limiting, on the other hand, shows they are, at least, being proactive. Yes, it is not ideal, but it is, in some sense, bringing the power back to the people … If you are alert and keep electricity use to a minimum during the set hours, you can effectively keep the lights on.
While load limiting can only be implemented in homes with smart meters, and only City Power customers – it is a step in the right direction. The City of Johannesburg and its subsidiary, City Power, should be applauded for the initiative. So far about 92 000 smart meters have been activated in Johannesburg, and according to City Power MD Sicelo Xulu, this is just the beginning.
While load limiting is not the solution to South Africa’s power crisis, it does, in some way, give residents a choice – which we did not have before. A choice to conserve electricity or be cut off.
Yes, it is a sad situation to be in, as no one should be cut off at all – but as mentioned, the power crisis is what it is and there is nothing we can do about it. So I am looking at load limiting as a small victory.
I guess I am one of those who always looks for the good. There are others who despise the smart meters and have protested against them. The Orlando West community was up in arms when City Power attempted to install smart meters. The community said the meters were unaffordable and they were not consulted.
Be that as it may, I truly believe that the smart meters are the least of the two evils, and we can sit and moan about bad governance and Eskom, or we can become part of the solution.
I can’t wait for the day a smart meter gets installed in my home so I can watch soapies in the dark.
