Cape to reactivate power plan

2008-01-31 09:46

Cape Town - The Western Cape's Energy Risk Management Committee (ERMC) is to be reactivated to deal with the latest wave of Eskom power cuts to hit the region, the provincial government announced on Wednesday.

Planning and Economic Development MEC Tasneem Essop said in a statement she had called an urgent meeting for Thursday - with Eskom, the City of Cape Town, the private sector, organised labour and civil society - to discuss how the power cuts could be managed this time round.

The ERMC was first set up two years ago to deal with power cuts in the province at that time.

Essop said the committee was a model that had worked.

"We managed to save about 400MW per day, which cut down the need to load shed. I believe the time has come for this committee and the plans to be reactivated.

"The current approach to load shedding by the city is perceived to be inequitable and largely targeting disadvantaged communities.

"We need to revert to the principles established two years ago, to ensure fairness through integrated load shedding schedules between the city and Eskom."

She said experience had shown that what the public expected from government was easily accessible reliable information on the timing of power cuts - referred to as "load shedding" by government.

According to her spokesperson, Nils Flaatten, Thurday's meeting will examine the previous ERMC plan to see if it is adequate to deal with the latest power cuts. A statement would be issued afterwards.

The most recent population figures show there are 5.3 million people resident in the Western Cape, almost two thirds of whom live in Cape Town, where demand for domestic and industrial power is highest.

- SAPA