Notices

The Vehicle Testing Station (VTS) located on Hibernia Street (next to the train station) was initially scheduled to be closed from the 15th of February until the 17th of March 2023 for equipment upgrading and replacement work.  Due to weather conditions, the replacement of brake rollers at VTS will be delayed for another week, therefore facility will be open to the public on Monday, 27 March 2023.

The public is advised to use private vehicle testing stations. The Vehicle Testing station is open weekdays from 08h30 – 15h30 and can be contacted at 044 801 9312.

Lawaaikamp water network upgrades today resulted in a pipe failure on one of the main water supply pipelines. Water interuptions may be expected in the Lawaaikamp area.

Standby teams will work throughout the night to restore the water supply to the affected areas.

Two water trucks will roam Lawaaikamp until 10pm tonight and again from 5am tomorrow morning.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Haarlem: Routine Maintenance on storage reservoirs may result in some colouring of the water discharged into the water distribution and reticulation network. The maintenance and colour may last for two to three days. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Please note the Water is safe for domestic use.

Issued George Municipality

GARDEN ROUTE DAM LEVEL – Water Restrictions remain in place
Issued 13 March 2023,  George Municipality

Percentage storage at new raised dam wall height                         88,05

Rainfall for previous 7 days:                                                                57.6mm  (Measured up to and including 6 March 2023

Recalculated to include rainfall received 6/03 in evening

Rainfall for last 7 days                                                                              20.3mm (Measured up to and including 13 March 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.

Due to some recovery in the generation capacity over the past 24 hours, Stage 4 loadshedding will continue until further notice. Eskom will provide an update as soon as any significant changes occur.

*George will be affected as follows:*
Monday 13/03/2023
16:00 – 18:30

Tuesday 14/03/2023
00:00 – 02:30
08:00 – 10:30
16:00 – 18:30

Wednesday 15/03/2023
00:00 – 02:30
08:00 – 10:30
16:00 – 18:30

Thursday 16/03/2023
00:00 – 02:30
08:00 – 10:30
16:00 – 18:30

Friday 17/03/2023
06:00 – 08:30
14:00 – 16:30
22:00 – 00:30

*Uniondale will be affected as follows:*
Monday 13/03/2023
19:00 – 21:30

Tuesday 14/03/2023
03:00 – 05:30
11:00 – 13:30
19:00 – 21:30

Wednesday 15/03/2023
03:00 – 05:30
11:00 – 13:30
19:00 – 21:30

Thursday 16/03/2023
03:00 – 05:30
11:00 – 13:30
19:00 – 21:30

Friday 17/03/2023
01:00 – 03:30
09:00 – 11:30
17:00 – 19:30

*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 After-hours 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 that needs to be sorted out.

*#Eskom load shedding update: Sunday, 12 March 2023: Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 16:00 on Monday. Thereafter, Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented until 05:00 on Tuesday. The pattern of Stage 4 loadshedding from 05:00 to 16:00 and Stage 5 loadshedding from 16:00 to 05:00 will be repeated until further notice.

_*Issued by George Municipality Communications in the Office of the Municipal Manager on behalf of Eskom.*_

*George will be affected as follows:*

Sunday 12/03/2023

18:00 – 20:30

Monday 13/03/2023

00:00 – 02:30

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 20:30 **

Tuesday 14/03/2023

00:00 – 02:30

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 18:30

Wednesday 15/03/2023

00:00 – 04:30 **

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 18:30

Thursday 16/03/2023

00:00 – 02:30

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 18:30

Friday 17/03/2023

06:00 – 08:30

14:00 – 18:30 **

22:00 – 00:30

_*Please note that the Uniondale network has just been normalised by Eskom. The Uniondale original schedule will therefore be active again AND WILL NOT RUN ON THE MISGUND SCHEDULE*_

*Uniondale will be affected as follows:*

Sunday 12/03/2023

21:00 – 23:30

Monday 13/03/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

19:00 – 23:30 **

Tuesday 14/03/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

19:00 – 21:30

Wednesday 15/03/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

19:00 – 21:30

Thursday 16/03/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

19:00 – 21:30

Friday 17/03/2023

01:00 – 03:30

09:00 – 11:30

17:00 – 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 After hours 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 that needs to be sorted out.

The George Municipality embarked on process to phase in a new electricity tariff structure. This process started on 1 July last year, and 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 so as to limit the impact on our consumers as far as possible.

PHASE ONE ROLLOUT – has included to date:

• Consumers were provided with an opportunity to select their Amperage capacity, in line with their household power requirement.
• Consumers who had not yet made a selection for their capacity (AMPS) by 1 July 2022, were then placed on a capacity selected by the municipality. The capacity selection is based on the consumers historic consumption (12 months prior). The option remains open for these consumers to make a change and select their own capacity.
• George Municipality has sent out field teams to visit residents at home and implement the changes, where for example a resident has applied and chosen a capacity for their house; and/or where no selection was made and the municipality then applied a capacity based on historic consumption.
• Consumers were also given the opportunity to make a capacity selection while a field team was at their home – so doing to minimise the impact of a Consumer making a choice which then does not work for them and having to get the field team in back to make a change again.
• Communication through various platforms continued to request consumers to make their selection timeously.

Thousands of Consumers have had the Capacity (AMPS) addressed through either their own selection OR by the municipal capacity selection. George Municipality has already successfully implemented power limit adjustments on thousands of it’s prepaid meter base, through the work done by field staff following the applications received from consumers for a specific capacity or by the municipality making the decision for Phase 1 power limit based on historic consumption. The field teams will continue to go out weekly to do Amperage limit roll-out and site inspections on prepaid meters.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Consumers who have already made their selection will NOT be affected by Phase 2 of the Power Limit Adjustment Project.

What about Consumers who have not yet made a selection?
The consumers who have not made a selection yet or who are not happy with the selection made by the municipality based on historical consumption, are encouraged to do so speedily on the details shared below. The first and most preferred option is always for our consumer to select the capacity their require. Consumers are allowed one opportunity per financial year to make such a change in capacity.

PHASE TWO ROLLOUT – POWER LIMIT ADJUSTMENT PROJECT will take place as follows:
From the 1st April 2023, the municipality will Apply the following Capacity Selection based on the historic consumption:

•  If consumer had a 12 month average historic monthly consumption of above 400 units (kWh) and below 600 units (kWh), the consumer will be placed on a 30A;
•  If consumer had a 12 month average historic monthly consumption of above 600 units (kWh) the consumer will be placed on a 40A;
• Indigents consumer will not be impacted by this phase, as all indigent consumers are dealt with in line with the Indigent Policy.
• All consumer who have already made their selections will not be impacted.
  
  Key Reminders on the applicable Electrical Tariffs are:
• 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 make a decision 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.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

Link to Application Form to Select Capacity
Link to Bulk Demand Application Form
Link to Excel Calculator – establish how many units you will receive for cash value and do the comparisons with selection of either 30/40/50 or 60 Amps
https://www.george.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Elec-Tariff-Easy-Customer-test.xlsx

Note: The excel spreadsheet must be downloaded from the link and enabled for editing. It will not work on cellphones that do not have Excel Viewer (XLXS Reader)

*#Eskom Load shedding update – Stage 4 will be reduced to Stage 3 over the weekend with Stage 1 loadshedding possible for Sunday morning.*

_*Issued by George Municipality on behalf of Eskom – 10 March 2023*_

(See changes to Uniondale schedule added)

*George will be affected as follows:*

Friday 10/03/2023

18:00 – 20:30

Saturday 11/03/2023

02:00 – 04:20

18:00 – 20:30

Sunday 12/03/2023

02:00 – 04:30

10:00 – 12:30

Monday 13/03/2023

00:00 – 02:30

08:00 – 10:30

16:00 – 18:30

*Please note that the Uniondale network has just been normalised by Eskom. The Uniondale original schedule will therefore be active again _*AND WILL NOT RUN ON THE MISGUND SCHEDULE*_

*Uniondale will be affected as follows:*

Friday 10/03/2023

21:00 – 23:30

Saturday 11/03/2023

05:00 – 07:20

21:00 – 23:30

Sunday 12/03/2023

13:00 – 15:30

Monday 13/03/2023

03:00 – 05:30

11:00 – 13:30

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 simultaneously. 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 After hours 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 that needs to be sorted out.

Issued by George Municipal Communications Department

Office of the Municipal Manager