THE emergency load shedding currently being implemented throughout the country cannot be compared to the rolling blackouts of 2008.
This is according to uMhlathuze Acting Head: Electricity Supply Services, Bheka Kanyile, who maintains there is a ‘difference’ which consumers must understand.
In a statement to the Zululand Observer, Kanyile said the current load shedding was implemented under emergency conditions.
‘This means Eskom only requests municipalities to load shed when they find the network can no longer meet the demand,’ Kanyile said.
‘Unfortunately this now means we can no longer plan our lives around load shedding as it sadly catches us unawares.
‘In 2008 there were rolling load shedding schedules and it meant that electricity cuts were to start and end at specified times.
‘This was so easy. One could plan your day and week around the schedule. In 2015 this is not the case.’
However, the municipality said attempts were still made to use the load shedding schedule during emergency power cuts.
‘Should Eskom request load shedding to begin at 10am, those blocks scheduled to be off at about 9.30am will be cut from 10am until midday.
‘From thereon the normal schedule will apply. Emergency load shedding is extremely difficult to communicate to customers effectively. There are times when Eskom literally advises us only 15 minutes before load shedding is to be implemented,’ Kanyile said.
The City conceded that emergency load shedding also had an effect on infrastructure.
‘When there is a fault on a cable it will at times only be known when the electricity is restored and will result in that specific area or street being without power until the cable is repaired or replaced.’
Communicate
The City is further investigating the possibility of a self-funding sms system, which can be used to send service related messages to registered customers.
‘The current sms system is not fast enough to send messages to the approximately 40 000 customers on the database.
‘During weekends, the Electricity Supply Services Section makes use of the Financial Services sms system to communicate with residents. These systems can only communicate to persons who are registered on the database.’
Customers who experience electricity related problems after the power has been restored can contact the Call Centre on 0800 222 827.
The current load shedding schedule can be viewed on www.zululandobserver.co.za or www.umhlathuze.co.za.
