Friday,
28 August 2020: It’s the end of a long day; you’ve just
come home from work, made dinner, put a load of washing on and are just
settling down in front of the TV for some evening viewing. For many South
African households, this is a typical evening routine. It is during this time that South Africa’s electricity
network is under the biggest strain – it is also known as the evening peak
demand.
So, what is peak demand?
Electricity
demand varies depending on the time of the day, day of the week or the
seasons. For example, when people get home from work or start the evening
routine, electricity demand often spikes as everyone turns on the lights and
gets dinner started around the same time. This period of peak demand tends
to occur when millions of households are using their appliances for cooking,
bathing, heating in winter (and cooling in summer), lighting and entertainment
all at the same time.
In South Africa, peak demand periods occur in the mornings
from 6am to 9am and in the early evenings from 5pm to 9pm. The evening
peak is generally as a result of the impact of residential consumers.
Winter usually sees a significant increase in the evening peaks and this is as
a result of many people switching on their heaters.
Eskom has
therefore re-launched the televised Power Alert initiative which informs the
public about the real time status of the electricity network and empowers
consumers to assist in balancing the supply and demand of electricity. The Power Alert system provides a
real-time link into the four television broadcasters
- SABC, etv, DStv - as well as Open View. The
colour-coded alerts inform residential electricity users if the system is
either stable, or under severe pressure. If under severe pressure, the
public is requested to turn off “all unnecessary electrical appliances such as
lights, geysers, pool pumps and non-essential appliances”.
“South Africa will
continue to experience energy shortages for the foreseeable future; and your
continued assistance by switching off lights and appliances in response to the
Power Alert system is commendable and highly appreciated,” says Sikonathi
Mantshantsha, Eskom spokesperson.
So please remember
to keep an eye out for and respond to the real-time Power Alert messages on
SABC, etv and DStv to help manage the strain on the electricity system.
Together we can make a difference and keep the lights on.
ENDS