The agency said electricity consumption for the three months ended in May this year increased by 6% compared to the three months that ended May last year.

Electricity consumption, after seasonal adjustment, for the three months ended May this year rose by 1% compared to the three months that ended in February this year.

Statistics SA said the actual estimated production of electricity in May this year increased by nearly 4% compared to May last year.

The estimated production of electricity for the three months that ended in May this year rose by 6% compared to the three months that ended May last year.

Electricity delivered by Eskom to the provinces for the first five months of this year increased by 8% compared to the first five months of last year.

Increases were reported for all the nine provinces ranging from 1.5% for Northern Cape to nearly 19% for Mpumalanga.

The volume of electricity purchased from outside South African borders increased from 5 008 gigawatt-hours in the first five months of last year to 5 162 gigawatt-hours in the first five months of this year, representing an increase of 3% or 154 gigawatt-hours.

According to the agency, the volume of electricity sold to neighbouring countries in the first five months of this year increased by 10.5% or 563 gigawatt-hours compared to the first five months of last year.

News24

2010-07-01 18:58

-SAPA

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“It is bold, courageous and it’s very responsible,” said Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga.

Maroga said the decision gave a clear message about where the energy regulator believed tariffs should go in the future.

In particular the regulator’s acknowledgement, if current assumptions remained, that a 20% to 25% tariff increase could be on the cards in the next three years was welcomed by Maroga.

On not getting the requested 53% increase, Maroga said: “It’s not about a single number”.

What was more important was to see that the regulator could be flexible and proactive about variations in the situation.

Eskom would be spending R343 billion over the next five years and about R1.3 trillion by 2025 in capital expansion programmes, said Maroga.

- Sapa

The regulator decided to allow Eskom to recover additional primary energy costs of R2.827bn through its electricity tariff which amounts to a 13.3% average increase, Nersa chairman Collin Matjila said.

The increase is well below the 53% or 60% nominal increase that Eskom had asked for.

- Sapa

Did you know?

• Eskom produces approximately 60% of the electricity on the African continent and, in terms of generating capacity, is the TENTH largest power company in the world.
• Eskom’s 26 power stations, located in different parts of the country, use coal, water, kerosene or uranium as their primary energy source and together keep the lights burning throughout southern Africa.
• Lethabo Power Station burns the lowest grade coal in the world.
• Koeberg is the only nuclear power station on the African continent.
• Apart from the dams and transmission lines, Drakensberg is located entirely underground.
• Palmiet is situated in the UNESCO registered Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, heart of the fynbos plant kingdom.

Energy Facts:

• Authorities predict an increase of electricity consumption of 15% per year.
• 60% of your electricity bill is caused by your geyser.
• Every time your geyser switches on it uses similar to that of 50 light bulbs!
• The average family uses less than 4 hours of hot water a day.
• The average family overpays for 600 hours of hot water every month that will never be used.
• Overfilling an electric kettle can waste enough energy to run a TV set for 26 hours!
• Leaving a computer monitor on overnight wastes as much energy as making 800 A4 photocopies!
• Lighting an empty meeting room overnight can waste enough energy to make 1000 cups of tea!

WALCO POWER SOLUTIONS

It is hot! It is new! It is here!

A business for R 15 000 (excl Vat) to start up that can pay you more than R 50 000 per month in nett income.

A business with many benefits:

• Grow your business.
• Build a team.
• Meet new people.
• Help others to save money.

A business that will offer you:

• Sales Training
• Management Training
• Ongoing Sales Support
• Products Support
• Back-up
• Assistance in marketing and branding

With the current conditions in the market place regarding energy and power, we are perfectly positioned to provide a solution to customer’s problems and create opportunity for entrepreneurs.

We offer three levels of entry into Walco Power Solutions:

• Agency – R 15 000.00 excl Vat.

• Area Licensee for  – R 350 000.00 excl Vat.
• Sales Representative

To get more official information on our business opportunity simply CLICK HERE.

Or download the documents below, read the executive summary, complete the application form and confidentiality agreement, fax it back to us at 086 682 3314 and we will forward you the Business Plan and Cash-Flow forecasts  together with the Initial Agency or License Agreement.

1. 1-walco-power-application-form
2. 2-walco-power-confidentiality-agreement

.

SALES PEOPLE NEEDED

Apart from our business opportunity we also seek strong sales people.

People that are:

• self motivated,
• well groomed,
• hard working,
• teachable and
• loves sales.

For more official information on becoming a sales rep in our company CLICK HERE.

I say it again: “With the current conditions in the market place regarding energy and power, we are perfectly positioned to provide a solution to customer’s problems and create opportunity for entrepreneurs.” – Lee Vosloo

Says Bendeta Gordon, Director of Franchize Directions: “During the tough economic times the world is experiencing at the moment, there is hope for the South African market, simply because franchises are usually able to support themselves. The Standard Bank Franchise Factor 2008 Survey showed a 37% increase (R256.46 billion) in turnover and the creation of 67 000 new jobs in the sector. Sustainability rate was almost 96%, with the sector’s contribution to GDP at 12.57%. This survey has brought home what a terrific mechanism franchising can be – especially in the context of our current situation in the country, and considering its socio-economic needs.”

Most of FASA’s franchisor members surveyed on how they are finding the economic slowdown acknowledge tough trading conditions but they all seem to be weathering the storm, some better than others. Says Kobus Oosthuizen, FASA’s Chairman, “The franchising industry, as the dominant business format as far as SME development is concerned, is continuing to foster its importance in the sustainability and growth of the South African economy. Across the globe small business is recognized as the safety net of any economy and the recent downfall of many massive conglomerates has once again proven that point.” FASA’s Executive Director, Vera Valasis, backs up that theory. “The economy is expected to contract this year but due to the strong and reliable track record of the franchise industry, backed up by the recent results of the Standard Bank Franchise Factor 2008, the franchise sector should fare better than other economic sectors.”

Some of the feedback from FASA’s members include:

- Those in sectors like automotive products and services and building, office and home services are finding that their services are in demand in this economic downturn. Says Corrie Taljaard, Business Development Manager for H-Q; “There is definitely a move by the public to ‘repairing before replacing’ – something one always sees in a recession.” Shannon Drake of Midas Motor Parts Centre reports that they have seen an increase in conversion enquiries, ‘from independent operators who feel that they stand a better chance of surviving the downturn if they convert their stores to a well-known brand.” This is backed up by other franchises such as On-Tap who have also seen an increase in franchise conversion enquiries.

- Franchise systems in the building, office and home services sector report that, despite the slowdown in the building sector, they’re seeing customers opting to renovate rather than upgrade. Says Louis Van Vuuren, Director of Talisman Plant and Tool Hire, “We’re seeing families with a new baby on the way opting to add on to their homes rather than buying a new home. Others are riding the property slump by renovating and improving their homes ahead of the next property boom.”

- Franchises in the business-to-business sector are also benefitting as companies downsize and opt to out-source services – from printing to personnel to financial and IT services.

- Food franchises report tight trading conditions but believe that their strong branding is standing them in good stead as cash-strapped consumers will gravitate to well-known brands who offer value-for-money and good service. Brendan McGhee, Marketing Manager for Ocean Basket, whose group has for the past year been preparing for the downturn with more aggressive marketing and better deals, reports a marked change in consumer behavior. “We’ve noted frequency of visitors has declined but ticket sales have grown significantly. So whilst people are cutting down on how often they eat out, when they do they are ‘buying up’ and really making an event of it. As franchise companies, we are better able to package great meal offerings with our supplier partners and retain our client base.”

Downturn a proven catalyst for franchise sales

FASA’s 30 years as South Africa’s only franchise association and its 15 years showcasing franchising opportunities at its International Franchise Expo has netted many lessons on how to withstand the economic downturn. Franchisors need to be consistent with their franchise offering, both in the good times and the bad. In addition to consolidating during these difficult times, franchisors need to prepare themselves for the upswing and remember, there are always people who in times of recession, are spurred on to become entrepreneurial due to retrenchments or retirement and are looking for opportunities to take control of their own futures by starting their own business.

Says Vera Valasis, Executive Director of FASA; “Despite the global recession, franchising is the one business sector that seems able to weather the storm of economic downturns and indeed been known to thrive when things slow down. When the market is down and there is insecurity in the job market, or when retrenchments or retirements happen, people are spurred into being entrepreneurial, fully aware that they have to consider alternative careers. Going into business for themselves suddenly becomes feasible, and it is here that franchising comes into its own. Franchising offers an attractive alternative to an insecure job, offering franchisees a degree of independence along with a support structure that includes training, national advertising, recognisable products, and manuals and guidelines that have proven their effectiveness.”

Eskom: No repeat of Jan 2008
Jan 11 2009 09:48

Johannesburg – South African utility Eskom, which is emerging from one of its busiest maintenance period ever, said it was ready to face rising demand after the festive season and avoid last January’s crippling power crisis.

Eskom’s maintenance peaked during December and the first week of January with up to 9 000 megawatts (MW) out of service, spokesperson Fani Zulu told Reuters late on Thursday.

“We are reducing the amount of maintenance now to cater for the demand slowly increasing … now we are close to 5 800 megawatts of planned maintenance going on,” Zulu said.

State-owned Eskom, which provides 95% of the country’s power, saw a near-collapse of its national grid in January last year, forcing mines and smelters to shut down for days, and costing Africa’s biggest economy billions of dollars.

Eskom has since rationed electricity and urged big consumers to save energy to ease the shortage, which critics says was caused by a lack of investment in new generation capacity.

Zulu said demand for power fell by as much as 1 500 MW late last year after smelters shut down furnaces on the back of the global economic slowdown, which cut demand for metals.

It gave Eskom a breathing space, but did not entirely erase the risk of power cuts with the reserve margin being low.

“Load shedding (power cuts) is always a possibility and that is a direct result of a low reserve margin,” he said.

The margin or spare capacity was at 8%, far from the utility’s target of 15%.

Stockpiles

To secure power supplies, Eskom, which relies on coal for most of its power generation, bought some 2 million tonnes of export-grade coal in 2008 to boost its stockpiles, which had fallen to dangerously low levels last year.

“Coal stocks are healthy now at just above 37 days,” Zulu said.

To avoid power cuts, the utility said consumption would need to drop by 10 percent. It has seen a drop of 5 percent so far.

“The bulk of that came from industrial customers, largely the mines … there is a lot of room to do some more work in the commercial and residential sectors,” Zulu said.

South Africa’ power regulator (NERSA) laid out new proposals to conserve power, under which users will have to pay a charge in addition to regular tariffs if they exceed prescribed limits.

Eskom has said it plans to spend a total of about R343bn over five years on new capacity, with assistance from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the government and its own tariff increases.

Zulu said Eskom would submit the application for the tariff increase in the next couple of weeks.

“We need to look at the impact of the crisis on Eskom, its new build programme and what it means in terms of the long-term demand prospects – we need to review all these before we can submit the application.”

The power regulator last June approved a total 27% tariff hike, short of a 53% hike requested by Eskom.

- Reuters

BEELD – Dec 15 2008 08:58:37:790PM

Verbruikers kan in die toekoms boetes van tot R9 per eenheid elektrisiteit betaal as hulle nie krag bespaar nie.

Die Nasionale Energiereguleerder (Nersa) het verlede week voorlopige reëls gepubliseer waarvolgens verbruikers beboet kan word. Luidens dié dokument is aanvraagkantbestuur die enigste manier om die “situasie te stabiliseer en die risiko van ontwrigtende beurtkrag te voorkom”.

Om dié rede het die nasionale elektrisiteitreaksiespan ’n kragbesparingprogram saamgestel wat ’n gemiddelde energiebesparing van 10% met boetes gaan probeer afdwing. ie voorlopige reëls bepaal September 2006 tot Oktober 2007 is die basistydperk. Verbruikers gaan beboet word as hulle nie ’n sekere persentasie minder as die gemiddelde kragverbruik in die basistydperk gebruik nie. Me. Nelisiwe Magubane, adjunk-direkteur-generaal van minerale en energie, sê dié boetes gaan van einde volgende jaar stelselmatig in verskillende sektore bekend gestel word.

“Ons gaan eers op die sowat 150 groot kliënte fokus, soos die myne, nywerhede en die kommersiële sektor,” het sy gister aan Beeld gesê.

Magubane sê huishoudings staan laaste in die tou om boetes te begin betaal en gaan waarskynlik eers in die middel van 2011 deel van die stelsel word. Verskillende sektore gaan verskillende besparingteikens hê om die gemiddelde besparingteiken van 10% te bereik. Dié verskillende besparingteikens is nog nie vasgestel nie.

Magubane sê die gewildste voorstel vir besparing is:

• mynwese en landbou 8%;
• kommersieel en residensieel 20%; en
• geboue van die regering en staatsentiteite 25%.

Hoe minder hulle daarin slaag om genoeg te bespaar, hoe groter is die boetes (sien kassie).

Volgens Magubane gaan in ag geneem word dat sommige maatskappye se produksie “seisoenaal” is en dat hulle dus byvoorbeeld in Junie baie meer krag gebruik as in Januarie. Die hoeveelheid krag wat maandeliks gebruik mag word, gaan vir elk van die groot verbruikers individueel bepaal word volgens hul behoeftes.

Magubane erken dit gaan moeilik wees om dié boetes by huishoudings in werking te stel.

Een van die probleme is onder meer dat meterlesings nie op presies dieselfde dag elke maand geneem word nie. “Ons het munisipaliteite gevra om solank daarna te kyk,” het sy gesê.

Die reëls maak voorsiening vir aanpassings aan die gemiddelde kragverbruik in die basistydperk. Moontlike redes vir aanpassings sluit in:

• beurtkrag in die basistydperk;
• as die kliënt op Eskom se versoek sy verbruik in die basistydperk verminder het;
• foutiewe meterlesings wat in die basistydperk laer elektrisiteitsverbruik getoon het as wat werklik die geval was; en
• as die eiendom van eienaar verwissel het sedert Oktober 2006.

Die reël-dokument is beskikbaar by www.nersa.org.za. Lede van die publiek kan tot 23 Januarie volgende jaar kommentaar lewer.

Die voorgestelde boetes.

Die boetes is in drie kategorieë verdeel:

Die Kontrolegroep

• Die boete is R2,80/kWh. Verbruikers wat ’n toegelate maksimumaanvraag van meer as 1 megavolt-ampère het en 1% te veel krag gebruik, betaal dié boete.
• Verbruikers wat ’n toegelate maksimumaanvraag van 1 megavolt-ampère of minder het en 2,5% te veel krag gebruik, gaan ook dié boete betaal.

Die Hindernisgroep

• Die boete is R4,50/kWh. As die kragverbruik meer is as wat in die kontrolegroep genoem word, maar nie meer as 10% te veel is nie, betaal verbruikers dié boete.

Die Strafgroep

• Die boete is R9,00/kWh en gaan gehef word as die kragverbruik meer as 10% te veel is.

Aldi Schoeman (Beeld)