'Electricity crisis not over'
2008-09-16 21:24
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Eskom is set to seek a 34% hike in electricity tariffs, back from the 88% rise it had been considering due to the global economic slowdown, a newspaper says.
Johannesburg - About 10 million high-energy consuming light bulbs will be replaced nationally in November with energy-saving bulbs, deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka announced on Tuesday.
"South Africans need to know that the electricity crisis is not over yet. Unless we save energy, we run the risk of experiencing a situation not dissimilar to the one we were confronted with last summer," Mlambo-Ngcuka said after a meeting with the Stakeholder Advisory Council (on Electricity) at the Union Buildings.
She said government was saving 1 000 megawatts at present, but the target was to save 3 000 megawatts.
"At least 10 million incandescent light bulbs will be replaced with about 10 million CFLs (energy saving) light bulbs throughout the country."
Air-conditioners, swimming pool pumps, and geysers had a devastating effect on electricity consumption in South Africa, Mlambo-Ngcuka said.
- SAPA