THE Drakenstein Municipality has signed a demand side management agreement with Eskom, which will fund load switching devices on the geysers of local residents (also known as ripple control).
The radio controlled load switching of geysers ensures that peak hour power load can be shifted by sending a radio signal to each home where a receiver has been installed, cutting off power to the geyser between 6 and 8 pm when the national grid is under pressure.
The installation of the load switching devices in homes will be funded by Eskom to the tune of R30 million.
The advantage of the system is that load is moved out of high tariff periods, reducing the electricity bill from Eskom after the first five years of the contract. The system can also be extended to allow for remote meter reading.
Other municipalities which have already indicated they wish to be involved in the scheme are Stellenbosch, Overstrand and Mossel Bay.
