GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Graaff-Reinet is the only town that met all Eskom's requirements for the successful implementation of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality (DBNLM) Alternative Load Reduction Programme (ALRP).
The ALRP entails the freedom of self-management of load-shedding in the greater DBN-municipal area to meet the required level of reduced electricity usage at given times.
This decision was made by Eskom because of the low usage of electricity in the rest of the municipal area.
Christo Nicholls, of the University of Stellenbosch and the driving force behind the programme, says they are also exploring the possibility to provide some degree of load-shedding immunity to other towns in the DBN-municipal area.
He said Council remains totally on board and fully committed to this project.
In his monthly update, Nicholls says it is a cumbersome process. "There are no shortcuts. We have to, and want to, meet all legal requirements."
He says they are now advertising for service providers to join the venture. "By the end of May we should be able to establish the panel considering the applications and make an appointment in June."
The pilot project to provide load-shedding immunity to Pick 'n Pay in Graaff-Reinet is well on track, says Nicholls. He also met with engineers to plan the installation of alternative energy to provide immunity against load-shedding. "We are still head and shoulders ahead of other municipalities in finding innovative solutions to fight load-shedding," says Nicholls.
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