Notices

Eskom load shedding update: Due to high demand and slight reduction in generation capacity, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented at 13:00 today until 05:00 on Tuesday.
Loadshedding stage 2 to be implemented from 05:00 on Tuesday until 14:00.
Issued by George Municipality 10 July 2023

George will be affected as follows:

Monday 10/07/2023
18:00 – 20:30

Tuesday 11/07/2023
02:00 – 04:30
18:00 – 20:30

Uniondale will be affected as follows:

Monday 10/07/2023
13:00 – 15:30
21:00 – 23:30

Tuesday 11/07/2023
05:00 – 07:30
21:00 – 23:30

Due to consistent available generation capacity, loadshedding will continue to be suspended from midnight until 16:00 and Stage 3 loadshedding will remain in force from 16:00 today until midnight. This pattern will be repeated daily until further notice.

George will be affected as follows:

Sunday 09/07/2023
18:00 – 20:30

Monday 10/07/2023
18:00 – 20:30

Tuesday 11/07/2023
18:00 – 20:30

Wednesday 12/07/2023
None

Thursday 13/07/2023
16:00 – 18:30

Friday 14/07/2023
16:00 – 18:30

Uniondale will be affected as follows:

Sunday 09/07/2023
21:00 – 23:30

Monday 10/07/2023
21:00 – 23:30

Tuesday 11/07/2023
21:00 – 23:30

Wednesday 12/07/2023
None

Thursday 13/07/2023
19:00 – 21:30

Friday 14/07/2023
19:00 – 21:30

Consumers are reminded to use electricity sparingly after power returns.
Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load shedding. Consumers are 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 load shedding 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.
Receive Eskom loadshedding notifications by downloading the free EskomSePush app from Google Play Store

PLANNED INTERRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: PORTION OF BORCHARDS

THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED:
PORTION OF BORCHARDS
BELLAIR STREET

NOTICE is hereby given that the electricity supply will be interrupted on TUESDAY 11 JULY 2023 FROM 09H00 TO 16H00 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 WEDNESDAY 12 JULY 2023 FROM 09H00 TO 16H00.

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BEPLANDE ONDERBREKING VAN DIE ELEKTRIESE TOEVOER: GEDEELTE VAN BORCHARDS

DIE VOLGENDE AREAS SAL GERAAK WORD:
GEDEELTE VAN BORCHARDS
BELLAIR STRAAT

KENNISGEWING geskied hiermee dat die elektriese toevoer onderbreek sal word op DINSDAG 11 JULIE 2023 VANAF 09H00 TOT 16H00 met die doel om veranderings aan elektriese hoofleidings te maak. Klante word gewaarsku om die installasie as lewendig te beskou vir die volle periode aangesien die toevoer enige tyd gedurende die periode aangeskakel mag word.

Sou omstandighede verhoed dat die werk gedoen kan word gedurende bogenoemde periode, sal die werk gedoen word op WOENSDAG 12 JULIE 2023 VANAF 09H00 TOT 16H00.

Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until midnight. On Wednesday and Thursday, Stage 1 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00, followed by Stage 3 loadshedding from 16:00 until midnight on both days. The implementation of Stage 1 loadshedding is due to an increase in generation unit failures. Loadshedding will be suspended from midnight on Thursday until 16:00 on Friday and Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented again from 16:00 until midnight

George will be affected as follows:

Tuesday 04/07/2023
None

Wednesday 05/07/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Thursday 06/07/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Friday 07/07/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Uniondale will be affected as follows:

Tuesday 04/07/2023
17:00 – 19:30

Wednesday 05/07/2023
16:00 – 17:30
23:00 – 00:30

Thursday 06/07/2023
16:00 – 17:30
23:00 – 00:30

Friday 07/07/2023
23:00 – 00:30

Consumers are reminded to use electricity sparingly after power returns.
Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load shedding. Consumers are 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 load shedding 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.
Receive Eskom loadshedding notifications by downloading the free EskomSePush app from Google Play Store at

Issued 4 July 2023

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
George Municipality embarked on a process to phase in a new electricity tariff structure last year on 1 July 2022 and which is in line with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved cost of supply study for George as well as the municipal Electricity Pricing Policy. The municipality has been effecting these changes in a variety of ways to limit the impact on our consumers as far as possible.

WHY THE AMENDMENT TO PHASE THREE ROLLOUT of Power Limit Adjustment Project?
The intention as communicated in April 2023 was to bill all consumers based on their installed capacity from the 1 July 2023. So,  for example, if you have an installed capacity of 60A prepaid meter on your premises,  you will be billed on 60A in line with the new tariff structure, unless you had already selected a capacity. However, the the economic challenges being faced by residents as a result of persistent loadshedding, higher interest rates and fuel prices have been taken into consideration and Phase Three has been changes as follows:

HOW PHASE THREE WILL WORK FROM 1 JULY 2023
All consumers who are currently being billed on 20A, but whose pre-paid meter is actually on a higher setting will be billed as follows from  1 July 2023:

• Consumer with a 12-month average historic monthly consumption of above 400 units (kWh) and below 600 units (kWh), to be placed (billed) on 30A. (400 – 600 = 30A)
• Consumer with a 12-month average historic monthly consumption of above 600 units (kWh), to be placed (billed) on a 40A. (>600 = 40A)
• Indigents consumers are not impacted by this phase, as all indigent consumers are dealt with in line with the Indigent Policy.
• All consumers who have already made their selections are not impacted.
• All residential consumers will thus be moved to be on at least a 30A supply, except those who have chosen to be on 20A.
• Commercial customers will be billed on actual capacity from July 2023 onwards. (This is maximum 80A on either single or three phase connection).

Key Reminders on the applicable Electrical Tariffs are:

• Consumers are only allowed one capacity change per financial year; any additional changes would be subject to tariff for changes.
• Small Domestic and Commercial tariffs (that is Prepaid and conventionally metered Consumers) are linked to the capacity limit of supply they choose.
• Consumers who are willing to manage their loads within a capacity limited to 20 Amps Single Phase are offered a subsidised tariff with no fixed charges.
• All Consumers who require more than 20 Amp capacity are charged a phased-in Cost Reflective Tariff with:

• a Fixed Basic Charge,
• a Capacity Charge depending on the capacity limit of the supply and
• a lower Energy Charge.

• Bulk consumers have all been moved to a Time of Use tariff.
• Small Scale Energy Generators (SSEG) consumers are subject to fixed and Time of Use energy charges. Further information on understanding the potential electricity cost and management of loads, and how to decide about the capacity you can choose will be provided.

Bear this in mind when making your choice:

• Capacity selection by the municipality based on the consumers historic consumption was for a financial break-even to reduce the impact on the customer and not necessarily to confirm the capacity required .
• The Municipality cannot determine the optimal capacity required with the available meter data; therefore, consumers must determine what their energy and capacity requirements are.
• The municipality has noted that customers are selecting the capacity as low as possible to reduce cost without understanding the implications. This is evident by the number of upgrades required once a selection is implemented. Please consider your selection carefully.
• Account in arrears debt will be recovered from consumers through the pre-paid vending system.

Do you want to discuss your energy consumption and find out what the best Capacity will be for your needs, phone 044 801 9243, have your Municipal Account Number and Prepaid Meter Number handy OR email your query to elec.applications@george.gov.za