27 April, @ 13h35, issued George Municipalit
PUBLIC NOTICE: MUNICIPALITY CLOSED ON UPCOMING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Issued by George Municipality 26 April 2023 for immediate release
Please note that the George Municipality offices will be closed on the upcoming public holidays Thursday, April 27th (Freedom Day) and Monday, May 1st (Worker’s Day). All emergency and standby services will operate as usual. The offices are open on Friday, April 28th as usual from 07h45 until 16h30 and will reopen after the long weekend on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023. After-hours emergencies: 044 801 6300. Fire emergencies: 044 801 6311
The Wilderness Tourism office hours for this weekend are:
Thursday 27th April 2023
09:00 – 13h00
Friday 28th April 2023
07:45 – 16:30
Saturday 29th April 2023
13:00 – 17:00
Monday 1st of May
09:00 – 13:00
George Tourism Office will be open on Friday from 08h30 to 16h30 to the public.
THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED: PORTION OF VAN MODDERRIVIER
STRAWBERRY & HAYGROVE FARMS
NOTICE is hereby given that the electricity supply will be interrupted on WEDNESDAY 03 MAY 2023 FROM 09H00 TO 16H45 for the purpose of doing alterations to the electrical mains. Consumers are warned to treat the installation as being live for the full duration as the supply may be resumed at any time within the notified period.
Should circumstances prevent the work being carried out during the abovementioned period; the work will be done on THURSDAY 04 MAY 2023 FROM 09H00 TO 16H45
Varying stages of loadshedding will be implemented over the long weekend.
George will be affected as follows:
Wednesday 26/04/2023
18:00 – 20:30
Thursday 27/04/2023
02:00 – 04:30
18:00 – 20:30
Friday 28/04/2023
02:00 – 04:30
18:00 – 20:30
Saturday 29/04/2023
00:00 – 02:30
08:00 – 10:30
16:00 – 18:30
Sunday 30/04/2023
00:00 – 02:30
16:00 – 18:30
Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Wednesday 26/04/2023
13:00 – 15:30
21:00 – 23:30
Thursday 27/04/2023
21:00 – 23:30
Friday 28/04/2023
05:00 – 07:30
21:00 – 23:30
Saturday 29/04/2023
03:00 – 05:30
11:00 – 13:30
19:00 – 21:30
Sunday 30/04/2023
03:00 – 05:30
19:00 – 21:30
SWITCHING ON AFTER LOADSHEDDING – Not all areas will be switched back on at the same time!
Residents of George must please note that with the extended load-shedding, our Electrotechnical Directorate is no longer able to switch the entire city back on at the same time. Our daily notifiable demand from ESKOM has historically been set at 85MVA and on average George would use between 60 and 80MVA, although the municipality must pay ESKOM for 85MVA.
If the power is returned simultaneously to all areas when load-shedding ends, this creates a massive spike or surge in power with all geysers, freezers/fridges/batteries etc drawing power at the same time. With the extended four-hour load-shedding, the spikes for George are consistently reaching 105 – 112 MVA.
Areas will be switched on in sections, on rotation after Load-shedding
Eskom has indicated that unless George can reduce the spikes, they will increase our notifiable demand to the highest actual usage level which will in turn increase the purchase cost to the municipality. Consumers are requested to use electricity very sparingly when power returns after load-shedding (especially a 4-hour slot). The municipality will now in rotation, switch the power on in sections. This means if for example the load-shedding slot is scheduled from 20h00 – 22h30, there is a chance that your area may only come on at 22h45 or 23h00.
Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load-shedding
Consumers are therefore urged to turn off high-usage equipment and where possible to not switch on appliances such as stoves and kettles for at least 30 minutes after load shedding. This will reduce the risk of overload tripping on the network and reduce our current high MVA spikes.
Reporting power outages
Please do not phone the Afterhours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report that you have no power immediately after Loadshedding is scheduled to be lifted. Please be aware of the rotational switching on and wait at least 30 minutes before reporting no power. The directorate will be aware if there has been a possible substation trip which needs to be sorted out.
GARDEN ROUTE DAM LEVEL – Water Restrictions remain in place
Issued 24 April 2023, George Municipality
Percentage storage at new raised dam wall height v 86,31
Rainfall for previous 7 days: 18 mm (Measured up to and including 24April 2023)
The co-operation of all users of municipal water is essential and is greatly appreciated.
Follow this link for the detailed Stricter Water Restrictions in English/Afrikaans and Isixhosa.
https://www.george.gov.za/george-doc-categories/public-notices/general/
Contraventions of the Water Restrictions can be reported on 0800 424477.
Report water leaks and burst pipes to 044 801 9262/66 or after hours at 044 801 6300, as soon as you notice them.
Issued by George Municipal Communications Department
Office of the Municipal Manager
https://futurecitiesafrica.com/episode/111/addressing-the-energy-crisis-in-south-africa-episode-1
Addressing the Energy Crisis in South Africa: Episode 1
Presented by Enpower Trading
It is possible to overcome the energy crisis in South Africa and build a sustainable energy future. Solutions do exist and some are leading the way. In this episode we first look at how George is dealing with the energy crisis whereafter we take a broad look at the transformation of the Electricity Supply Industry in South Africa.
South Africa is in the midst of a landmark power crisis which has resulted in devastating short-term and long-term effects on South Africa’s economy and its people.
With increased loadshedding and the rising and crippling cost of electricity, municipalities play an integral role in helping to resolve the energy crisis by providing alternative, innovative solutions to allow the South African Electricity Supply Industry and the their economies to regain lost ground and hopefully, put the country on a path to accelerated economic growth.
Featured in this episode:
Alderman Leon Van Wyk, Executive Mayor at George Municipality.
Bongani Mandla, Director of Electrotechnical Services at George Municipality.
James Beatty, Chief Executive Officer at Enpower Trading.
Listen or watch to understand and explore:
What prompted George Municipality to look at alternative energy sources as a possible solution?
The strategy to implement these alternatives?
‘Frameworks’ George Municipality has put in place to ensure the grid is open and accessible.
If the municipality sees increased competition as a threat?
How the municipality plans to retain revenue or increase revenue if competition is increasing?
The benefits an open market will have to the customer and how this impact the broader community and drive local economic development.
The technical challenges as well as policy, legal and regulatory reforms required to make wheeling possible.
What success will look like over the next few years in dealing with energy crisis in George?
The role Enpower Trading will play in the transformation of the Electricity Supply Industry:
The value the trader brings in trying to accelerate new generation capacity onto the national and municipal grids.
The concept of Grid-centric vs. Energy Centric and the misconceptions surrounding wheeling.
How we can ensure that municipalities don’t lose money.
How municipalities should go about ‘future-proofing’ their services to allow for local economic development.
@Future Cities Africa @Daniel Claassen @fca_digital @Future Cities Africa
Due to the failure of seven generation units in the last 24 hours, higher stages of loadshedding will be required over the next few days.
George will be affected as follows:
Monday 24/04/2023
20:00 – 22:30
Tuesday 25/04/2023
02:00 – 05:00 **
10:00 – 12:30
18:00 – 20:30
Wednesday 26/04/2023
02:00 – 04:30
10:00 – 12:30
18:00 – 20:30
Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Monday 24/04/2023
16:00 – 17:30
23:00 – 01:30
Tuesday 25/04/2023
05:00 – 07:30
13:00 – 15:30
16:00 – 17:30
21:00 – 23:30
Wednesday 26/04/2023
05:00 – 07:30
13:00 – 15:30
21:00 – 23:30
SWITCHING ON AFTER LOADSHEDDING – Not all areas will be switched back on at the same time!
Residents of George must please note that with the extended load-shedding, our Electrotechnical Directorate is no longer able to switch the entire city back on at the same time. Our daily notifiable demand from ESKOM has historically been set at 85MVA and on average George would use between 60 and 80MVA, although the municipality must pay ESKOM for 85MVA.
If the power is returned simultaneously to all areas when load-shedding ends, this creates a massive spike or surge in power with all geysers, freezers/fridges/batteries etc drawing power at the same time. With the extended four-hour load-shedding, the spikes for George are consistently reaching 105 – 112 MVA.
Areas will be switched on in sections, on rotation after Load-shedding
Eskom has indicated that unless George can reduce the spikes, they will increase our notifiable demand to the highest actual usage level which will in turn increase the purchase cost to the municipality. Consumers are requested to use electricity very sparingly when power returns after load-shedding (especially a 4-hour slot). The municipality will now in rotation, switch the power on in sections. This means if for example the load-shedding slot is scheduled from 20h00 – 22h30, there is a chance that your area may only come on at 22h45 or 23h00.
Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load-shedding
Consumers are therefore urged to turn off high-usage equipment and where possible to not switch on appliances such as stoves and kettles for at least 30 minutes after load shedding. This will reduce the risk of overload tripping on the network and reduce our current high MVA spikes.
Reporting power outages
Please do not phone the Afterhours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report that you have no power immediately after Loadshedding is scheduled to be lifted. Please be aware of the rotational switching on and wait at least 30 minutes before reporting no power. The directorate will be aware if there has been a possible substation trip which needs to be sorted out.
REFUSE COLLECTION OVER THE NEXT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS – 27 APRIL AND 1 MAY
Issued by George Municipality 24 April 2023
Refuse (black, green, and blue bags) will be collected as per the normal schedule on public holidays, Freedom Day, 27 April 2023 and Worker’s Day, Monday, 1 May 2023.
Businesses ARE REQUESTED TO PLEASE ONLY put REFUSE BAGS OUT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays AND only at designated spots, not on the sidewalk.
REFUSE REMOVAL: GENERAL
All refuse bags; black, green, and blue, must be put out by 07:00 am on the removal day ONLY.
Only 4 green bags are allowed, and unlimited blue bags.
All black bags will be collected on the Public Holidays and can also be substituted or combined with bundles of branches/ garden waste.
Bundles must not be too big for one person to pick up OR more than 1m in length.
Broken glass should be wrapped in a newspaper when thrown into bags to prevent injuries to workers.
Gwaiing Landfill Site on R102
Bulky waste must be disposed of at the Gwaiing Landfill Site on R102. The Gwaiing landfill site is usually open Monday to Friday from 7:00 until 19:00, Saturdays and Public Holidays from 7:00 until 15:00. On Thursday, 27 April (Freedom Day) and on Monday, 1 May (Worker’s Day) the landfill site will be open from 7:00 until 15:00.
CONTACT
George Municipality Environmental Services
82 Meade Street, George. Phone 044 802 2900/11
Black bag-related enquiries: 044 802 2900/11
Blue and green bag enquiries: LGE Waste, 044 878 0688/ lgewaste@gmail.com