The South African electricity public utility, Eskom has come up with plans to combat load shedding in a sustainable way. The company announced that it is set to install smart meters in homes nationwide as it grapples with ways to reduce energy demand.
The idea behind the smart meters is to allow for remote monitoring and control of geysers, to help reduce the strain on the national grid. Though the initiative has sparked some concerns regarding the loss of autonomy, advocates stress that smart geysers offer a real solution by empowering individuals to self-regulate their electricity consumption.
The “demand-side management” (DSM) project that the electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has estimated will cost about R16-billion to deploy in eight million homes, is meant to reduce the excessive electricity demand during peak times by disconnecting customers who exceed “responsible” usage limits.
The average power demand from geysers accounts for about 10% of Eskom’s installed capacity, which reaches a high of about 35% during daily peak periods. Remotely monitoring and controlling geysers will help Eskom identify and address “excessive” energy usage, which should alleviate load shedding.
Since geysers have been identified as a significant contributor to energy consumption, government has revealed it aims to save up to 3.5GW of electricity by reducing geyser-related demand by at least 1GW.
For accessibility assurance, especially for financially disadvantaged households, government has secured a partnership with a major financier to facilitate the roll-out of smart meters and provide financing options.
The smart meters will enable remote control of geysers through smartphones, which will allow Eskom to set recommended operating times and send reminders to switch them off. Moreover, the meters support two-way communication, which allows Eskom to limit power supply to homes and prompt users to turn off energy-intensive appliances like geysers and stoves.
The CEO and founder of Sensor Networks, Mark Allewell, reiterated how remote geyser management is key to long-term electricity consumption moderation in South Africa.
The controllers are equipped with real-time data and are accessible through a mobile app, providing homeowners with the ability to manage their geysers’ heating schedule from wherever they are. Already, thousands of homeowners across South Africa have installed smart geysers, with nearly 50% utilising an app for efficient water-heating control, Allewell said.
