Eskom urges users to reduce electricity consumption

“It is like a drought, and everyone is trying to find a way to save water,” Dames said.

“Here, electricity is the oxygen of the economy… the oxygen of the media. We all need a stable power system.”
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Funny how now suddenly it's become important. Now when it's not there anymore. Funny how back in 1998 and on when they were warned this is going to happen, it wasn't "oxygen" but rather "water" to piss out everywhere.
Oh wait, we've got a similar thing happening with the water system now. Hmmmm. :erm:

Wall, meet writing.

(I wonder if this guy gets how ironic that water analogy REALLY is.)
 
Why cant they, instead of building new powerplants, invest the money into the comunity? By giving us all, or subsidise in solar energy. During the day, the sun charges the batteries, once full it get pump back into the grid. That way we all win.
 
ctrl+z said:
Why cant they, instead of building new powerplants, invest the money into the comunity? By giving us all, or subsidise in solar energy. During the day, the sun charges the batteries, once full it get pump back into the grid. That way we all win.
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Apparently it's still illegal to pump electricity back into the grid apart from some areas in CPT. You want subsidies, how about not getting arrested. :D
 
I wish they would make up their minds (if they have one)! One time they say, they don't get enough revenue cause people not using enough; now it's reduce usage!
 
I know its not legal, and im not doing it, but they sould consider it. Think about it, about 3kw per house per day, times a million houses...
 
Eskom should invest in upgrading the energy grid instead. This is NOT the 1990's where people only used electricity to light and cook and watch TV. Times have changed now, and demand is increasing.

What Eskom should be allowing now is for people who have solar panels to sell the energy they generate into the energy grid. I remember the other day watching eNews Channel, this guy's roof was solar panels only and he said he uses like 20 percent of the energy from his solar panels. That 80 percent could have helped a lot if it was in the energy grid.
 
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Yet when you drive along the highways (and on other roads of course) you see office blocks with their lights on and places with huge lights on for no reason... They should get fined!
 
ctrl+z said:
I know its not legal, and im not doing it, but they sould consider it. Think about it, about 3kw per house per day, times a million houses...
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Definitely.. I was just pointing out how backwards and stupid Eskom is..
 
I've read somewhere that within the next couple of years, it would cost the same to generate your own electricity, as it would be from eskom. Only problem is the start up cost. Currently its about 80k for a 10kw setup......
 
This all boils down to the same issues we have seen with Telkom too. If you do not upgrade a 30 year old system when it was 10-20 years old, then you were bound to see problems. The biggest problem with this country will always be leaving things to chance. You have to bloody maintain and upgrade you idiots. I'm looking at you too [monopolistic company name here]. Arggh, then the same people who kept you in business have to bail your mismanagement? Sell those assets and do what everybody does, get into debt and pull yourself out. Sink or Swim!
 
purpleonlineadmin said:
This all boils down to the same issues we have seen with Telkom too. If you do not upgrade a 30 year old system when it was 10-20 years old, then you were bound to see problems. The biggest problem with this country will always be leaving things to chance. You have to bloody maintain and upgrade you idiots.
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This is unfortunately not unusual. Many countries have had the problem of maintaining and upgrading ancient infrastructure. And that's first world countries.

The_Librarian said:
Dear Eskom

I CANNOT CUT DOWN ON ELECTRICITY USAGE ANY MORE

Now take that, put it into your pipe and smoke it.
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Same here. We've cut at least 20%, and there's not really more we can do.
 
ctrl+z said:
Why cant they, instead of building new powerplants, invest the money into the comunity? By giving us all, or subsidise in solar energy. During the day, the sun charges the batteries, once full it get pump back into the grid. That way we all win.
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Because they are idiots! I totally agree with you.
 
Both Eskom & Telkom were running at a massive loss when the current government took them over IIRC.
 
PapercutPrincess said:
Yet when you drive along the highways (and on other roads of course) you see office blocks with their lights on and places with huge lights on for no reason... They should get fined!
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They are on to prevent cable theft. Welcome to South Africa!
 
noxibox said:
This is unfortunately not unusual. Many countries have had the problem of maintaining and upgrading ancient infrastructure. And that's first world countries.
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I agree with you. Most first world countries also have these problems, but they are doing something about them. They heavily subsidise solar powered geysers etc. They also have systems in place where you can dump your excess electricity (from solar panels) into the grid during the day and get it for free at night when you need it. That eliminates the use of batteries, which is a significant part of the cost when going solar.
 
eskom say that it'll take time to build the power needed, i say throw 90% subsidized solar panels and wind turbines. Make supplying the grid legal and you have an 'instant' power plant in a month.

As cool as that would be it wouldnt become a reality because 1. The is no profit in it (you think eskom would provide "free" power if it would help the grid?) 2. The human user consumption is nothing compared to the businesses. Thats all this is really - lower our usuage so they can sell it off somewhere else.

Regardless, im going to see about getting off the grid and creating my own elec - i only see eskom becomig more expensive in the next 15 years and more power cuts to come.
 
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