- With blackouts and load-shedding frequently sweeping across the nation due to the energy crisis in South Africa, the Stellenbosch Council has resolved to investigate the use of alternate electricity energy supplies outside of Eskom.
- The decision puts Stellenbosch in the lead to potentially become the first municipality in the country to eliminate load shedding.
The promulgation of the Electricity Regulation Act Regulations in October 2020 opened the door for municipalities to start investigating how they can generate their own electricity and purchase electricity from independent power producers (IPP).
“The adoption of this initiative by Council paves the way for an investigation into the need, viability and opportunities to be conducted,” the council announced in a press release.
The joint investigation will focus on various potential sources of energy production, including rooftop solar panels, methane mining, allowing the public to generate electricity and sell this to the municipality, purchasing electricity directly from registered IPPs, and the possible selling of electricity to willing buyers from outside their municipal area.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
Source: Stellenbosch Council
