City Power has changed the load limiting cut-off from 30 seconds to three minutes. The changes will be effective on 5 August.
Hloni Motloung of City Power said the utility implements load limiting households who are above the stipulated threshold of 21 amps to get cut off for a period of 30 seconds, in iterations of five disconnections until they have reduced consumption to the required levels.
This includes manually overriding geyser switches and disconnecting appliances from secondary dwellings such as cottages, staff quarters and outside rooms.
“The power outage for non-compliant households will be increased from 30 seconds to three minutes until the consumption has been reduced to required levels,” explained Motloung.
The utility has revised and shortened the load limiting schedule and it has moved to the new time schedule between 5.15pm and 6.45pm.
Managing director of City Power, Sicelo Xulu, advised residents not to panic when they experience these prolonged shortages during load limiting, but rather manually disconnect energy-guzzling appliances in order to keep the lights on and be spared from the inconvenience of load shedding.
Through the implementation of load limiting, City Power relieves the load from the grid and reduces the potential of load shedding.
Load limiting is a technology that enables City Power to forestall the implementation of the early phases of load shedding by enforcing reduced consumption through remotely disconnecting households that use electricity excessively during peak periods.
“This first-to-market technology enhances the value proposition of Johannesburg and makes it the ideal place to work and live. It gives its residents the ability to avert complete power outages,” explained Xulu.
Residents who are not receiving SMS notifications are advised to email their meter number and cellphone number to loadlimiting@citypower.co.za
Customers can check up-to-date load limiting schedules on the City Power Twitter handle: @CityPowerJhb, or call the load limiting call centre on 087 022 0540 or email smartmetersupport@citypower.co.za
Details: City Power 011 490 7607.
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