City Power experiences strain on the network due to cold temperatures

Following the cold weather conditions in Gauteng, City Power has announced that it is currently experiencing capacity constraints due to the high volume of power that is used by the people. 

City Power added that under these conditions the electrical system is prone to unplanned outages resulting from overloading and increase in consumption demand.

“City Power has, however, put plans in place to tackle such unplanned outages. The key focus of the plan is to attend to those areas that experience repeated unplanned outages on the same day or week,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

“City Power has also prioritised resources to address those areas where there are capacity challenges. Among other efforts, we are equipping our technicians with fast-moving spares and strategic materials. We have also increased the number of technicians in areas that are prone to repeat unplanned power outages.”

Mangena said more teams have been put on standby so that they can be dispatched to attend to outages and respond to emergency calls.

“The plan has also driven City Power technicians to repair and replace those parts of the network that have contributed to repeated power outages. Constant monitoring of the network, maintenance, and implementation of new technologies form part of our efforts to reduce the number of outages affecting our customers.”

Mangena has called on community members to stick to energy-saving tips to avoid power outages. 

Energy-saving tips

If you are not using it, switch it off

• Switch off your pool pump and a geyser if you are going away on holiday
• Insulate your geyser with a blanket or other insulating material to conserve energy consumption on a geyser
• Infrared lights on appliances also consume electricity, switch them off at the wall socket
• If you are going on holiday ensure that your timer switch is in good working condition to switch your outside lights off during the day and on during the night
• Switch off lights in unoccupied rooms and if you are going on holiday, switch off all inside lights
• How long will you be away for? Why not leave out perishables and grocery shopping so that you can switch your fridge off
• An unoccupied house does not need to be warmed or cooled, remember to switch off the air conditioners and underfloor heaters and other appliances.

• Fridges and freezers energy-saving tips
• Ensure that fridge door seals are in good condition
• Do not open the fridge doors unnecessarily
• Do not leave the fridge door open while you are busy with other things
• Do not put hot food or liquids in the fridge
• Defrost your fridge regularly. A heavy build-up of ice increases the running cost of the fridge.

Lighting energy-saving tips

• Use a bulb with as low wattage as possible. But remember that a 100-watt bulb provides the same light as two 60-watt bulbs
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs
• Compact fluorescent lights are economical, they use less energy and emit more light and last longer than incandescent lights
• Clean your lights and bulbs regularly because dirt reduces the amount of light emitted.

Kettle energy-saving tips

• It costs a lot less to boil water in a kettle than to boil water on a stove
• Boil only as much water as you require. (But always make sure that the kettle element is covered with water.)
• Do not overfill the kettle. Many people fill the kettle to the brim to make one cup of tea, merely cover the element in an electric kettle.

Stove energy-saving tips 

• Electric frying pans and microwave ovens use less electricity than a stove
• Pressure cookers and stackable pots use less electricity than standard pots
• Match your pots to your stove’s plates. A big pot on small plates means uneven cooking
• Do not use pots with distorted bottoms; they require a lot more heat
• High temperatures are only required at the start of the cooking process. So turn the heat down as you proceed
• Switch off your oven and stove plates just before the food is fully cooked
• Do not use your oven to make toast. A bread toaster costs far less to run
• Always use lids on pots/pans wherever possible. Use the lowest possible heat. Do not use a small pot/pan on a large plate as the heat goes up past the pan, along with your electricity bill
• Avoid using the oven for cooking a single dish at a time
• If you have a warming-oven use this for warming the food and not the main oven, unless of course it has been previously used and is still warm.

Washing machine energy-saving tips

• Buy a washing machine that offers a variety of water temperature settings
• A front-loading washing machine uses less water and costs less to operate even though the purchase price may be higher
• Use warm and cold water settings as much as possible to cut down on the energy needed to heat the water.