Question NW4183 to the Minister of Public Enterprises
08 January 2024 - NW4183
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
What (a) are the details of the (i) metros and (ii) local municipalities in which Eskom installed smart meters in the past five years as a means of demand-side management and (b) were the costs of the installation of the smart meter programmes in each specified metro and local municipality? (2) Whether the smart meters are being used effectively to control demand; if not; (a) why not and (b) what steps have been taken to address the shortcomings; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
According to information received from Eskom:
(1)
(a) The smart meters that were installed during the past five years were mainly for grid modernisation, increased operational efficiency, revenue collection improvement and technology enhancement. The current non-smart meters that were in use have almost reached the end of life as technology is continuously developing. Internationally, all meters are read and controlled remotely with big data being collected from installed smart meters to enhance services offered to customers.
Eskom has started a project to use the already-installed meters for demand management i.e: using the load-limiting functionality which is built into smart meters. The first phase of the project was in Gauteng (Fourways) to ensure that the system worked as per design before the national rollout. At this stage, Eskom is preparing to roll out load limiting in all areas nationally, where smart meters are installed, following the successful implementation of the project in Fourways.
(i) Metros:
Sandton/Midrand – The full rollout of load limiting on installed smart meters in Sandton/Midrand is part of the second phase of the load limiting project. To this effect, the load limiting project in Fourways has already been extended to over 5000 smart meters in Riverside (Fourways area).
(ii) Municipalities:
Smart meters were installed at Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape for a Pilot Project known as Metering as a Service (MaaS). Part of the second phase of the national load-limiting rollout is to engage the municipality and implement load limiting on the installed smart meters.
(b) The installed cost of a single-phase meter ranges between ± R1 700 and ± R2 700 for a three-phase meter, if it is a straight meter swap out. Labour costs are included.
(2)
(a) Eskom has started a project to use the already-installed smart meters for demand management, using the load-limiting functionality built into smart meters. The first phase of the project was in Gauteng (Fourways) to ensure that the system worked as per design before the national rollout. At this stage, Eskom is preparing to roll out load limiting in all areas nationally where smart meters are installed following the successful implementation of the project in Fourways.
(b) Since June 2021, Eskom has only been installing smart meters for electrification projects and maintenance. Load limiting will be phased in on all installed smart meters under the national load limiting project.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date: