Thank you Escom

Credit where credit is due. Was settling down to do some seriass punting at Wolverhamton yesterday, when 'poof' all the power went off for 3 hours. BUT having seen the dividends today, Escom saved me a bucket load of tom. "It's an ill wind that doesn't blow anybody good"

To add to the problem the coal is getting wet, it has to be slightly damp,but not wet! and they need electricity to dry it, "a vicious circle" or catch 22, but expect a few dark times over the next couple of months. "Night racing" interesting subject?

A few years ago I had Golden Guest running in the first leg of the Jackpot at Greyville when 'poof' all the lights went out. I stand corrected but I think they have a back-up generator which took about 20minutes to get going. The outcome? Golden Guest shat in at 20/1 and the JP paid R5000. It's an ill wind that doesn't blow anybody good!!

STANDARD BANK is down country wide - save me a bucket in PE i hope!!!

No end to the consequences of the power cuts, not the least of which is rotting and contaminated food everywhere.
Do they really deserve thanks for anything at all ?

Yesterday, power was cut at home at 5.15pm. Came back on at 6.45 for a whole 5 minutes and went off again. Came back on a while later (not sure what time), then off again at 10.30. Went to bed. Good fun this.

Read below. The bit about R 10 million performance bonuses is worthy of comment.


Eskom demands 53% hike2008-3-18 21:56Cape Town - Eskom wants to raise its tariffs by more than 50%, the National Electricity Regulator of SA (Nersa) announced on Tuesday.
If granted, the increase will replace the 14.2% hike Eskom was allowed by Nersa in December last year.

That increase is scheduled to come into effect from April 1.

Nersa said: "Eskom has applied for a revision of the price for 2008/'09 from 14.2% to 53% increase (sic) or a 60% nominal increase."

It said Eskom wanted the revision because of what the utility said were its higher primary energy costs, and "accelerated demand side management" costs.

"In the light of the current electricity supply shortage and load shedding in the country, the energy regulator will give urgent attention to Eskom's application and make its decision after following due process."

Nto Rikhotso of Eskom's media desk confirmed earlier that the new application would be lodged on Tuesday afternoon, but that she could not reveal the increase sought.

She said Nersa would open up a public-participation process once the request was lodged.

"It's their prerogative to communicate what we have submitted to them," she said.

R10m performance bonuses

In allowing a 14.2% hike last year, Nersa rejected Eskom's bid for 18.7%.

Eskom said at the time it needed the increase to maintain effective operations following a steep increase in coal cost and the need to finance capital expenditure.

Its managers are scheduled to receive performance bonuses of shares valued at R10m at the end of this month.

The hike - whether 14.2% or 53% - comes in the wake of a 2c a kiloWatt hour electricity levy announced last month by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, and amid a new round of nationwide power cuts.

Reacting earlier to media reports that the hike sought was 24%, trade union Solidarity said South Africans could not afford the increase.

It urged Nersa to reject the request.

More cheerful news from Eskom on Tuesday afternoon was that South Africans would probably not be left in the dark at the Easter weekend.

Load shedding to continue

It said in a statement that two of the nine generating units that had been out of action on "unscheduled maintenance" came back earlier in the day, and two more were expected to come on line on Tuesday evening.

"However, load shedding will continue until after evening peak (21:00) as the wet weather continues," it said.

"The cold and wet weather has increased the demand for electricity and adversely affects coal handling at the power stations."

Eskom said it was load shedding up to 2 500mW, and the risk of cuts would remain until Thursday.

"We don't expect any load shedding during the long weekend as demand patterns are historically lower during holidays," said Erica Johnson, Eskom's chief officer for networks.

Earlier on Tuesday, before any units were restored, Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger said the power situation was "extremely serious".

He warned that in the unlikely, but possible, event of more generating-unit failures, power to mining companies would have to be cut.

Rikhotso said that mines were operating on rationed power, and the long-term plan was that this would be "ramped up" in stages.

An announcement on Monday that Gold Fields had been allocated additional power for use at its Kloof and Driefontein gold mines formed part of this process.

"It's going to be done for all of them," she said.

Possible class action

In January, power shortages forced gold and platinum mines to shut down for five days.

Solidarity announced on Tuesday that its leadership had resolved at an "emergency" meeting to prepare for a possible class action on behalf of mineworkers "should Eskom persist with plans to reduce electricity supplies to mines".

It said it would send a letter to Eskom warning that workers who lost their jobs due to negligence on the part of Eskom or government would be entitled to claim damages.

"Reduced electricity supplies to mines will almost certainly result in job losses," it said.

"Power provision at 90% of normal consumption (the current level to most mines) can cost as many as 20 000 jobs."

Solidarity also would ask President Thabo Mbeki to appoint an independent team to support him in seeking a solution to the electricity crisis.
SAPA

Are you one of the 50% not effected. Do you live near your local MP ?



Cuts hitting only 50% - survey2008-3-18 20:35Johannesburg - Half of South Africans say Eskom power cuts have little effect on their lives, a survey has revealed.
A sample of 2 000 people was asked in February this year whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement: "Load shedding is having little effect on my life".

Fifty percent agreed.

The results of the poll, conducted by TNS Research Surveys, were released on Tuesday.

About 46% of those questioned said power cuts had affected them, while 4% said they did not know .

The survey found the load shedding badly affected black South Africans in the Gauteng province financially, especially those in the Vaal Triangle and on the West Rand.

Durban residents also felt the financial pinch of power cuts with Cape Town and Eastern Cape residents being the least affected.

More Gauteng residents found themselves caught in gridlocked traffic due to the power cuts, while Eastern Cape residents barely reported experiencing this.

Anger levels

Most South Africans tended to blame Eskom and the government for the country's power problems and most felt it would have a dire effect on the country's economy.

TNS Research Surveys identified a 30% negative response rate, where anger levels become serious.

"This anger will be directed at both Eskom and the government as people feel both carry some blame."

There were, however, mixed views on what impact the power crisis would have on the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Blacks were fairly optimistic and whites very pessimistic.
SAPA

50% increase for no power ? Interesting development !

I must say I've hardly been affected.

I stay in the Berea, Durban

I live in Glenwood, very close to Berea road, Durban.

Monday - no power for 3 hours in the afternoon
Tuesday - evening power debacle described above
Wednesday - today, just got back power now after 2 hours 20 minutes

Load shedding might be new but my block has been experiencing this sort of thing for years now, though usually only during the Christmas period. It's really frustrating when we keep losing power but can see Berea Centre, a block and a half way, with full power. I suppose we don't notice when we have power and they don't though.

Sabre how long you been living there??.....I grew up in Glenwood...Brand Road...lived in a block of flats that is now an ABSA I think