Very good suggestion regarding power usage

T

The_Unbeliever

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http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Your_story/0,,2-2127-2128_2258542,00.html

Energy quotas would motivate people not to do so, but it won't explicitly stop them. A more direct approach is for Eskom to limit the amount of power you're allowed to draw off the grid (similar to limiting the current through a multi-plug with a trip switch) thereby ensuring that the demand cannot exceed the supply.
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I won't have a problem with this solution if it's implemented.

And I'm looking at moving our fridge and freezer over to solar power, to minimize our dependency upon eksdom. The last 40-hour power cut is something which I don't want to experience again.
 
That would require some pretty sophisticated metering equipment to be installed in the homes as well as badwidth to send metering data for every household back to eskom/municipalicty.
 
It would actually be very easy, just put a 20 or 50 amp (or whatever is decided) breaker into the electrical box. Hence that is the max that would be allowed for the house hold.....
 
LoneRanger said:
It would actually be very easy, just put a 20 or 50 amp (or whatever is decided) breaker into the electrical box. Hence that is the max that would be allowed for the house hold.....
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Then you'd have a lot of busy electricians circumventing that. :D
 
Syndyre said:
Then you'd have a lot of busy electricians circumventing that. :D
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Given, but that is the sad fact. People would rather have complete power blackouts, than switching of the kettle before using the toaster and so not have the power to use either one :(:(
 
What I don't understand is that with any other commodity, even essential ones like petrol, food etc. if there's a shortage of supply the price increases until demand equals supply. Why not apply the same logic to electricity? Make it expensive during peak periods and very cheap in the middle of the night or whenever the off peak periods are, that way everyone can get their power if they're prepared to pay for it, seems logical to me. If you don't want to pay you can delay your energy intensive activities till off peak times.
 
That is a very good suggestion and wish the could implement it. I agree but the only problem with that is to monitor the time some individual is using the power.

I recon if everyone use their power conservitavely (screw spelling its friday afternoon) it might help. Even if it means I don't have to go 21 Hours without electricity like yesterday.
 
Well, strike me down with a feather.
T_L - that is actually one good idea. Which immediately means that guavamint will never use it.

I could live with that "solution" though.
 
LoneRanger said:
That is a very good suggestion and wish the could implement it. I agree but the only problem with that is to monitor the time some individual is using the power.

I recon if everyone use their power conservitavely (screw spelling its friday afternoon) it might help. Even if it means I don't have to go 21 Hours without electricity like yesterday.
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It wouldn't be that difficult, you'd have to put in a specialised meter but its no more difficult than everything else they've proposed. Then open up the power market to independent producers and you'll find companies constructing expensive gas-driven plants that they'll only operate in peak times when power prices are higher etc. which might alleviate some of the load shedding problems. Economics 101 really.
 
Syndyre said:
What I don't understand is that with any other commodity, even essential ones like petrol, food etc. if there's a shortage of supply the price increases until demand equals supply. Why not apply the same logic to electricity? Make it expensive during peak periods and very cheap in the middle of the night or whenever the off peak periods are, that way everyone can get their power if they're prepared to pay for it, seems logical to me. If you don't want to pay you can delay your energy intensive activities till off peak times.
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And how will they measure what you use where? A good idea, but I can't see how they will be able to determine electricity usage during off-peak and peak periods.
 
The_Librarian said:
And how will they measure what you use where? A good idea, but I can't see how they will be able to determine electricity usage during off-peak and peak periods.
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Install new meters to people who want to do that? The rest can use a quota system?

I still prefer the original idea - the breaker system.
 
In all probability, it isn't a practical idea.
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No, it's not. You dont take into account a family of four has different needs to a bachelor who eats takeaways and only needs to keep his beer chilled.

I firmly believe a two tiered system would benefit everyone - make it cheaper to run heavy appliances late at night when demand is lower and people will.
The_Librarian said:
And how will they measure what you use where? A good idea, but I can't see how they will be able to determine electricity usage during off-peak and peak periods.
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How? Meters like they do all over the world. :)
 
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bwana said:
No, it's not. You dont take into account a family of four has different needs to a bachelor who eats takeaways and only needs to keep his beer chilled.

I firmly believe a two tiered system would benefit everyone - make it cheaper to run heavy appliances late at night when demand is lower and people will.
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It makes the most sense to me, that way everybody can use what they want as long as they're prepared to pay for it, businesses won't be disrupted etc. Depending on the need you could even make it more than a two tier system, have multiple levels for different times of the day etc. Although obviously the simpler the better. I don't understand why nobody is seriously proposing this.

The_Librarian said:
And how will they measure what you use where? A good idea, but I can't see how they will be able to determine electricity usage during off-peak and peak periods.
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You'd have to put a new meter in capable of that.
 
Could the ripple signals sent to geysers to switch them on/off be used to signal prepaid meters when it's peak time and thus count down your money 2 to 3 times as fast. Again, maybe we need new prepaid meters or just a "firmware upgrade?"
 
ajax said:
Could the ripple signals sent to geysers to switch them on/off be used to signal prepaid meters when it's peak time and thus count down your money 2 to 3 times as fast. Again, need new prepaid meters
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Maybe, even if they do need to install meters it'd still be worth doing. It'd be a lot more effective than everything else they're planning to install.
 
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