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Energy plan could backfire
11/02/2008 10:51 - (SA)
James-Brent Styan
Cape Town - The installation of Eskom's new smart meters could take much longer than previously anticipated.
The power utility wants to install about three million of these meters in private households and plans to begin installation before the end of this year.
The meters will replace current electricity mains and will make it possible for consumers and Eskom to switch power on and off in homes when needed without having to be physically present.
The shortage of technicians could hinder Eskom's plans.
Allyson Lawless, a director at the South African Institute for Civil Engineers (SAICE) says that the only way the installation can take place is if Eskom and the local government outsources the work to the private sector.
"Eskom and local government does not possess the manpower to be able to do the installation", Lawless said on Sunday afternoon.
Nelisiwe Magubane, deputy director general in the department of minerals and energy, says the installation of the smart meters is an important part of the governments energy efficiency plan
The minister of energy and minerals, Buyelwa Sonjiica, announced the plan last week.
Magubane admitted that the local government and Eskom technicians are currently dealing with a very heavy workload.
This means that government will not be able to add the installation of the new meters to their current workload.
"We will have to outsource the installation to the private sector", she confirmed.
Lawless also express concern about the management of the installation process. "The problem lies not in the outsourcing of the installation but with monitoring that the work is done correctly."
- Sake
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