Current energy dilemma is not all doom and gloom
Reverting to alternative sources of energy, particularly where heating is needed, is no longer a luxury, he said.
LYDENBURG -Although we have been getting used to darkness and load-shedding, it is not all doom and gloom, said engineer and certified energy manager, Mr Leo Middelberg at the recent business chamber meeting.
Middelberg gave an honest overview of the present energy dilemma and provided a few survival tips to a well attended meeting.
Reverting to alternative sources of energy, particularly where heating is needed, is no longer a luxury, he said.
This step will offer protection against ongoing electricity price hikes and unreliable service delivery.
To do this, with good planning, as soon as possible, is also advisable – “before it becomes too expensive”, Leo said.
Although Eskom’s recently employed DSM (demand side management) policy has brought about some improvement in energy supply, the maintenance and capacity problems are all but solved.
He also speculated that the approaching elections are contributing to minimising load-shedding – a situation that could change after 2016.
He explained the concept of licence holders, who have the only right to energy supply.
In Lydenburg’s case the municipality is the licence holder and therefore going directly to Eskom is not an option. He highlighted the three options available to businesses and households: going off the grid completely; staying grid-coupled or keeping all one’s eggs in the Eskom basket.
In some ways, post-paid accounts are more beneficial, especially where a time-of-usage tariff could be negotiated with the municipality or supplier.
This would also encourage usage in non-peak periods. At present, systems are not in place to add alternative energy to the grid and end-of-line users who need to connect directly with Eskom, will have to foot an exorbitant network bill.
Should the business community reach a point of despair, finding a lawyer with experience of the process and following the North West’s Jaap Kelder model of paying into a trust account, could be investigated. But under no circumstance should people be advised not to pay. This would add insult to serious injury, Middelberg said.
Dr Dave Huchsemeyer, who also attended the meeting, found the talk very informative.
He said the speaker presented his information very clearly and although the future does not look too good with regards to the Eskom situation, he found it refreshing to hear the facts without the speaker being a “profit of doom and gloom”.
