Eskom’s door-to-door roll-out of energy saving Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) across Johannesburg is in full swing again.
Homeowners in the targeted areas of Johannesburg, Roodepoort and Randburg are urged to take their last chance to swap their old incandescent bulbs for free CFLs while they can.
Through the current programme, Eskom plans to distribute 2.6 million CFLs in the Gauteng area, 8 million nationally, to South African residential consumers.

Having reached approximately 193 781 homes and installed 1 915 430 CFLs, the programme is now 45 percent complete, with around 684 570 CFLs still to be rolled out. In the process, Eskom has collected in excess of 1 549 331 incandescent bulbs and crushed them in a certified environmentally-safe way.
Nosipho Maphumulo of Eskom said the programme was recently put on hold while Eskom implemented stricter measures to ensure the safety of consumers during door-to-door exchanges. This followed an incident where someone posed as an Eskom representative to gain access to a home. The incident is under police investigation.
“We have taken a zero tolerance approach with installers who must bear photo identification and wear clearly-identifiable T-shirts and bibs otherwise they are not allowed into the field. Residents should always ask for proof of identification and never open the door to anyone who cannot produce an ID card to show who they are and that they are part of the Eskom CFL exchange programme.
“Eskom CFL installers will also carry customer visit forms bearing the Eskom logo. Lamps used in the programme are always Eskom-branded. If in doubt over the authenticity of installers, residents can ask installers to exchange their old bulbs for new ones at their gate or outside their property,” advised Maphumulo.
In addition:
•Eskom will work with body corporate and local security companies to accompany the exchanges.
•Public exchange points have been set up in certain areas where residents of a neighbourhood can exchange incandescent bulbs for CFLs rather than participating in a door-to-door exchange.
Consumers can find out if and when their suburb is to be targeted by checking their local newspaper or listening for notifications on their community radio stations. Updated exchange point schedules can also be found on Eskom’s website each week.
The current door-to-door roll-out is a joint effort between Eskom and City Power, targeting customers supplied by City Power.
“If you do not fall under City Power, you will not be targeted by the current CFL door-to-door rollout,” says Maphumulo.
Maphumulo  says the CFL exchange programme is of national importance and those in the target areas should grab the opportunity to be part of the campaign.
“CFLs are far more energy efficient than normal incandescent bulbs, using around 80% less electricity and lasting more than six times longer. So, they offer a meaningful way to save electricity and money. Swapping 20 incandescent bulbs for CFLs around your home can result in an estimated saving of R1 690 on your electricity bill annually, while saving around 7.84kWh per day and 2861.6kWh per year.
“This is especially relevant given the country’s power supply constraints, the rising cost of electricity and the tightened economy. At the same time, switching energy efficient lighting alternatives means that you can help to reduce harmful Co2 emissions, which is now a global priority.
“CFLs are slightly more expensive to buy compared to normal incandescent lamps. Through this door-to-door initiative, you can exchange up to six of your old power-guzzling incandescent bulbs for free energy saving CFLs. It is a limited opportunity for you to make the change and start benefitting from CFLs without incurring any costs,” she says.
She adds that: “We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to start reaping the rewards of lighter lighting. It’s not going to cost you a cent. At a time when everyone is under financial strain after the recession and with the cost of electricity set to rise further, it just makes sense to take the chance at cutting your energy consumption and costs. When the CFL exchange programme hits your area, be part of it and make the swap to efficiency.”
Queries about when, where or how to participate can be directed to the Eskom customer contact number on 08600 37566. Alternatively, visit www.eskom.co.za/dsm for more information and exchange point schedules.

Eskom has urged homeowners to be cautious after criminals representing themselves as Eskom appointed Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL) installers entered a home.

The incident has forced Eskom to suspend all door-to-door CFL rollouts pending an investigation into the incident.  Residents are requested to refuse entry to anyone posing as an Eskom CFL installer.

Customers who wish to participate in the energy-saving CFLs exchange can still visit the locally advertised exchange points in selected areas. Details of the exchange points are listed on www.eskom.co.za/dsm (click on right hand side panel link called CFL programme and click on customer self exchange points).

Customers are reminded that exchange points are temporary in selected areas only, and should bring their incandescent bulbs as soon as they see the exchange point advertised.

Eskom regrets that a positive initiative such as this exchange programme has been hampered by a criminal element and hopes to resume it in due course.
sc@caxton.co.za

Exchange your old incandescent bulbs for energy saving globes.

Eskom’s free self-exchange roll-out, which runs until end July, will provide participating suburbs the opportunity to exchange up to 20 incandescent bulbs. This will result in an estimated saving of up to R1,690 on annual electricity bills and a total energy saving of up to  7.84kWh per day or 2861.6kWh per annum per household.

Residents are urged to make the effort to ‘switch and save’ by visiting their local temporary self-exchange point, bringing with them their ID documents and proof of residence.

A few places to go:

• Benmore, Parkmore, New Brighton and Sandown can exchange at  Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre, corner Grayston Drive and Benmore Road until 30 June from 9am to 4.30pm.
• Hyde Park exchange at the Hyde Park Shopping Centre’s Pick n Pay until 27 July, every Sunday and Monday from 9am to 4.30pm.
• Woodmead exchange at the Woodmead Retail Park and Makro until 31 July, Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

To view a full list of updated  self-exchange points visit www.eskom.co.za/dsm or phone Eskom 0860-037-566.

Photo: www.metafro.be/prelude/prelude_pic/Celtis_africana2.jpg

Natasha Bezuidenhout

Duxberry residents are outraged that Eskom contractors mistakenly chopped down eight indigenous trees on the Braamfontein Spruit.Resident Anne Bleyenheuft said a number of trees that posed no threat to overhead power lines had been felled.
“A directive was given by Eskom to cut and remove all trees or vegetation close to power lines that run along Braamfontein Spruit. A contractor hired to carry out the carnage was unsupervised and caused so much damage.”
Eskom spokesman Sibusiso Duma confirmed that the indigenous trees had mistakenly been chopped.
“Eskom is mandated by law to maintain and control vegetation under its power lines. Bush clearing is carried out as and when required and grass cutting is done annually before the fire season.
“Braamfontein Spruit maintenance was carried out over the weekend when the supervisory staff were not on site and the contractor mistakenly felled the indigenous trees.”
Bleyenheuft challenged Eskom to replace the indigenous trees along the spruit.
“The appalling aspect of losing these precious trees is that our green belts are sadly neglected and no-one replaces them or plants more. I also appeal to residents to protect their open spaces.”
Duma apologised for the mistake. “A meeting has been arranged with City Parks to discuss replanting the trees, and the way forward. Our sincere apologies for the damage caused.”
natashab@caxton.co.za

I am a resident in Sandown Estate, and for the past week we have experienced one to two unexpected, unannounced power cuts a day, each lasting several hours.

This is quite clearly load-shedding, again. My questions to Eskom are these:

Why can you not notify us in advance before your technicians flick the switch?

Is this an effort to recoup, in advance, the millions in annual bonuses that Eskom plans to pay top executives again for their ongoing uselessness?

If not, is this a devious move to force our hand into believing that, if it doesn’t get the ridiculous rate hikes it demands, we will indeed become darkest Africa?

While Eskom sits in its Megawatt bubble oblivious to the world outside, perhaps the powers that be have overlooked this fact.

Fifa World Cup is upon us, and our efforts to convince (or is that fool?) foreigners that sunny South Africa is the way to go despite the violent crime, road rage and potholes, will be futile if potential overseas visitors have to endure constant blackouts?

THE recently approved electricity price increase is expected to run from this month until March 31 next year.

Amid difficult economic affairs, electricity consumers are now faced with the obstacle of a significant increase in the price of electricity.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) last month confirmed that Eskom’s application for a price increase would be partially met. The national electricity supplier had applied for a 34 percent increase but the compromise reached was 31.1 percent.

This will come as a hard knock for  consumers as the average tariff of wholesale electricity will now increase from 25.24 cents per kWh to a hefty 33.14 cents per kWh.

The price hike seeks to create a relative buffer for ‘poor customers’ who will nevertheless face a substantial increase of 15 percent.

The increase is estimated to bring inabout R64.704 billion, inclusive of international sales, which is believed will be used to finance Eskom’s expansion projects and fund new coal-fuelled power stations.

A Nersa spokesman said it would continue to investigate primary energy costs specifically those pertaining to coal, and maintained that it served to act in creating a fair balance of the interests of the electricity supply industry and the public.

Meanwhile the city council said it had already approved its own hike prior to Nersa’s announcement, and would investigate if there were sufficient funds to cushion the difference. Spokesman Virgil James said,“If council funds are not adequate we will have to pass the additional expense on to the consumers as soon as possible.”

citybeat@caxton.co.za