By Nangamso Mabindla
9 March 2006

RESIDENTS have been asked to co-operate with the Buffalo City Municipality as it may be called on to undertake electricity load shedding as a result of recent power failures experienced by Eskom.

These have been caused by the shutting down of the Koeberg plant.

This load shedding, which may be needed if the hydro pump stations in Gariep and Van der Kloof are not in operation, requires the municipality to reduce electricity consumption.

City communications manager Darby Gounden said Buffalo City Municipality would be required to manage consumption by shedding some load, in order to keep the electricity network stable as well as avoid major outages or blackouts in the area.

"The result is that certain customers in our municipal area may experience a loss of electricity supply for a short period of time."

Gounden said that in the event that Eskom became short of supply and required load shedding, the City had prepared load-shedding schedules to minimise power outages, lasting four to six hours at a time.

She said, however, these planned schedules would only be implemented as and when required.

"Eskom has announced that the Eastern Cape may not experience power cuts. However, as a precautionary measure our customers are advised that they may switched off, while others customers in the vicinity are switched on."

The municipality called on its customers to assist it by voluntarily cutting usage in the forthcoming months. They were urged to:

• Reduce sewerage output, as this puts a strain on the sewerage treatment works when there is an electricity outage;
• Try not to cook excessively as this increases consumption of electricity;
• Try not to use higher electricity consuming appliances such as washing machines, tumble driers, air conditioners, heaters, kettles and other electrical appliances;
• Conserve electricity by switching off lights when they are not in use;
• Try to switch off geysers on weekdays from 5am to 11pm and from 7am to 10pm on weekends; and
• Try to reduce electricity consumption on weekdays from 5am to 11pm and from 7am to 10pm on weekends.

Gounden also urged consumers to use electricity sparingly during this period, as any saving in electricity consumption would help the municipality to manage any potential problems effectively.

All media will be kept informed on the areas affected. Standard messages will be provided by the municipality's Call Centre and on this website.

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