Chronicle ReporterJohannesburg City Power contractors are visiting all households across the city to install geyser control devises.
The equipment will enable City Power to interrupt the electrical supply to the geysers and reduce the demand for power when necessary, to avoid power failures.
According to City Power’s Paul Vermeulen, various contractors have been appointed to perform the inspections and repair, replace or install control devices.
Vermeulen also revealed that contractors could be identified by their dark blue jackets, each with a City Power logo and yellow writing on the back that says, ‘City Power Demand Side Management’. The contractors will all have City Power ID cards.
The inspections and repairs will be undertaken on week days between 8am and 8pm, and on weekends and public holidays between 8am and 6pm.
Although the city council has the right to install such equipment, property owners may be excluded but be liable to pay a fixed rate tariff of R345.80.
Once in full swing, geysers will be controlled between 7am to 10am and 6pm and 8pm. Bypassing or removing the control equipment is a criminal offence that carries a fine of about R2 000 or six months imprisonment.
citybeat@caxton.co.za
TODAY