How City Power can cut off your electricity if you use too much

Ockie

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I installed this before the ANC destroyed the power grid.

And overall it uses much less power than a geyser, so ideally everyone should install these.

And the really dumb idea is the flipping of people's power supplies - they will destroy hundreds of millions of rands of home appliances.

Mmmmm maybe I should consider this instead of a gas geyser. Will have a look tonight. Are they expensive? Should be easier and cheaper to install too maybe?
 

diabolus

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So. Let me get it straight. They will turn off your power, then switch it on, then turn it off again, until you comply. I can see some appliances with shortened lifespans Why not just send an SMS for the user to comply, warning he/she will be switched off in the next 5 minutes in the event of non-compliance.

P3wP3w beat me to it /edit


Yes, this, what happened to sending out a warning/sms with data like Usage vs. Required Usage . How will you know what exactly you need to do to avoid the risk, how will you know how far over you are?

I would also rather just went with an SMS / Online system that would be able to tell you at any time what you need to do, when you need to do and whether you have achieved it.



City Power plans to limit household electricity usage through load limiting by restricting residents to 21Amps between 19:00 and 22:00 daily.

I assume the smart readers show some sort of message about this? How will normal people know this?
 

thehuman

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Yes, this, what happened to sending out a warning/sms with data like Usage vs. Required Usage . How will you know what exactly you need to do to avoid the risk, how will you know how far over you are?

I would also rather just went with an SMS / Online system that would be able to tell you at any time what you need to do, when you need to do and whether you have achieved it.





I assume the smart readers show some sort of message about this? How will normal people know this?

The meters have a display showing current usage . As you switch of apliences it display will update.
You want 2 hours of no power when loadsheding
Or
No tumble dryer, dishwasher, swimming pool pump, geyser
Will still have careful use of stove or oven
 
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Jola

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if you don't have 3 phase power it won't work, and it will cost you 50c per minute of hot water.

Yes, but still uses less power per day than a ordinary geyser (4Kw * 2 hours per day ?)

(24Kw for 10 minutes v 4Kw for 2 hours) ?

They aren't that expensive, but you have to add the cost of the electrical work. (40 Amp 3-phase trip switch and adequate wiring).
 
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thehuman

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Yes, but still uses less power per day than a ordinary geyser.

They aren't that expensive, but you have to add the cost of the electrical work. (40 Amp 3-phase trip switch and adequate wiring).

R25k plus to eskom to install 3 phase
 

Jola

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R25k plus to eskom to install 3 phase

Cost me zero, already had it.

And don't have to switch off geysers or install geyser timers, or geyser blankets, etc.

If you don't turn the tap on uses no power.

But obviously a solar geyser is better, maybe even in combination with one of these.
 
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krycor

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User pay principal.. lol. What I find interesting is that this is legally allowed, I'd be interested to go back to the legal wording of electricity delivery. Pretty they opening up a hole which everyone can sue them.
 

c3n0byt3

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The smart meter technology is great. So many awesome things you could do with it, and they came up with this.
It reminds me of the taxi drivers that used to have a spanner in place of a steering.

But regarding the meters, we have one that is capable of wirelessly transmitting stats to a console but there's no console. Asked Eskom and no joy there. It's one of the Landgis units. Would be useful instead of having to buy one of those inline meters from Builders etc.
 

spiff

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just another reason to get OFF the grid and fucc eskum even more :twisted:
 

Sinbad

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What is the chance you will draw 21amps when not home ?

In general, not speaking for my house - quite high. Geysers, pool pumps, security lighting, anything else that can run on a timer...

I don't use electricity for heating water at all - but somehow the house hit 9KW the other day.
2kw for aircons, 1 for pool pump, 1 for microwave, 700 watts for "background stuff" and I can only assume the tenants in the cottage were doing something daft.
 
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