MTBPS commentary regarding the strain on the national grid by Charl Osborne, Organisational Head of Commercial at CBI-electric: low voltage:
Article Category:
In the 2021 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana explained that over the past 13 years, government has put all its efforts into fixing Eskom rather than adding additional capacity to the grid. However, it has made significant progress in correcting this.
Charl Osborne, Organisational Head at CBI-electric: low voltage, welcomes the strides that Government is making to alleviate the strain on the national grid. “But, until this happens, the country can expect more bouts of load shedding,” he says.
This is reflected in the Statement which says that although the electricity sector grew by 5.8 percent in the first half of 2021 year-on-year, the generation capacity remains constrained. “This means that although Eskom announced that the current scheduled loadshedding will be ending, the risk of power cuts going forward into 2022 remains high,” adds Osborne.
With this in mind, Osborne says that now is the time for South Africans to put the power in their own hands by using smart devices and home automation products. “This allows locals to manage their energy output by scheduling when high energy powered appliances should switch on and off. Should they schedule these appliances to be turned off during peak hours, this will not only alleviate the grid but can save consumers money when it comes to their electricity usage, as well as protect appliances from electrical surges as a result of load shedding,” he says.
“We look forward to seeing the results of the initiatives outlined in the 2021 Budget to reduce the risk of load shedding come to fruition, but until then it is vital for the country to band together to alleviate the load and improve their quality of life,” Osborne concludes.