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Bay Council approves load shedding mitigation strategy to curb economic meltdown

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As part of its load shedding mitigation strategy, The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Council, yesterday, approved a plan to mitigate against the rolling blackouts caused by load shedding and negatively affecting residents and the local economy in the short, medium, and long term.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Electricity and Energy said: “This is in response to the municipality’s dwindling revenue collection from the sale of electricity as well as the pertinent need to soften the crippling impact of load shedding on the local economy.

“One of the short-term goals is to explore the electricity load curtailment of qualifying customers.

“In the medium term, we foresee the improvement of the electricity saving capacity of the 84 000 geysers, remotely controlled with ripple control switches, by ensuring better compliance by those consumers currently bypassing the system. If implemented correctly, 50 mW can be switched off remotely when required.

“Another low hanging fruit in the medium term is the refurbishment of the gas turbine (a ModPod 50) at Mount Road with an installed capacity of 50 mW that will operate at around 40 mW (which is equivalent to two stages of load shedding). A service provider will be appointed to assess the facility and to provide a report on what is required to get it operational.

“In addition, a pilot project to curtail the electricity load of existing consumers, with the requisite smart technology already installed at their premises, will be implemented to reduce their electricity usage without completely switching off their electricity supply,” MMC Grootboom said.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality approved a sustainable energy plan 2030, a long-term plan that includes facilitating for consumers to install Rooftop Photovoltaic on their premises and receive rebates for energy not used through a net-billing tariff. The Municipality also plans to go to market and procure kWh’s to credible Independent Power Producers.

The long-term plan will also seek to deploy renewable energy initiatives through the NMBM buildings and infrastructure in order to reduce electricity demand of the City and that of national grid.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.