CoJ fights loadshedding

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is working on reducing the effects of loadshedding to residents and businesses.

During the State of the City Address, the CoJ’s mayor, Clr Parks Tau, said loadshedding represents economic strain and constant inconvenience.

“By investing in innovation through smart meters over several years, Joburg is now able to dramatically reduce the extent of loadshedding through our new load limiting system. This allows business and home owners to reduce their own electricity usage in order to avoid the rolling blackouts of loadshedding,” he said.

He said currently at 200 megawatts, Kelvin Power Station can provide 7 percent of the CoJ’s needs.

According to Clr Tau, there are talks between the CoJ and the private sector to secure investment in Kelvin to push its capacity to at least 600 megawatts.

“Combining these innovations with electricity generated by users, through solar panels and other technology, plus ripple control – which allows the city to manage power usage in specific areas – the CoJ can reduce power from the grid by 25 percent, without blackouts in any City Power areas,” he said.

He said this is part of the measures by the CoJ to reduce the impact of loadshedding on its residents.