2.2.6.2.2 Protected and Conservation Areas
Water ² Access to piped water Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Grand Total %
2.3.5 ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY
Public Transport
As part he SDF, a land use assessment for the urban areas was done based on the various principles of sustainability which involves defining planning areas in terms of reasonable walking distance, i.e. 2km or 30 minutes from a specific area or central business district. Fundamental to the concept is the notion that the majority of local daily needs for any inhabitant should be within a reasonable walking distance of the home. Both urban comply with these principles.
The demand supplysituation does not warrant the need for formal taxi organisations to operate in the area. Informal taxi services are rendered by private vehicle owners as a means of income. For obvious reasons there are no taxi ranks in Ikwezi. Likewise there is no public transport and the municipality does not have a budget for transport facilities.
Bus Shelters
There are three bus shelters for passengers. The one is at the entrance to Jansenville from Port Elizabeth on the R75 and the other at the T-junction on the corner of the R337 to Klipplaat. The remaining bus shelter is on the R75, about 15km from Jansenville on the way to Graaff Reinet.
Weigh Bridge Management
The closest weigh bridge management centre is situation outside Port Elizabeth and it is doubtful if Ikwezi would warrant a Weigh Bridge Management service.
There are 294 or 10% of the total number of 2 915 households in the municipal area, using candle as an energy source and of these 3.4% is located in ward 1, 2.1% in ward 2, 1.1% in ward 3 and 3.5% in ward 4.
The Municipality is the Service Provider for electricity and distributes power to the whole of Jansenville. Power to Klipplaat and the rural areas are supplied by Eskom. There are 1613 households that receive electricity directly from the municipality. All of the low cost houses were equipped with solar geysers as a cost saving measure over time. This was also extended to the formal town area. R3.2m for this purpose in the 2012/13 financial year. An additional R15m has been gazetted for the upgrade of the electricity grid for 2015/16 financial year, therefore urgent business plan must prepared and submitted to secure the funding.
The Jansenville Sub-station was upgraded in 2010/11 at a cost of approximately R6m.
Reticulation has recently been completed as part of the upgrade of the Jansenville system at a cost of a further R6m. Ikwezi Municipality upgraded the Mini Sub-stations and network that are located in the Jansenville area, and DoE allocated
Eighteen high mast lights have been erected in Jansenville. By February 2012 the equivalent number was installed throughout Klipplaat at a cost of R1.9m. Additional funding is required to safeguard the entire area.
The transformer at Waterford has to be upgraded to supply the 20 household with electricity.
The municipality has from their transformer supplied four houses in Waterford. The majority of houses in Waterford still need power and funding must be secured.
The majority of the backlogs are found in Waterford and Wolwefontein. The railway houses in Wolwefontein receive electricity via ESKOM and the community have requested to be services by the municipality as it is alleged that ESKOM tariffs are higher. The cost implications will have to be looked at for possible inclusion in the Project Register.
The supply agreement entered into with Eskom, stipulates a notified maximum demand allocation per month, which is inadequate. Consumption above the allotted maximum demand results in hefty penalties with disastrous financial consequences. Funding efforts must be intensified to enable the municipality to request ESKOM to upgrade the maximum demand from 1 MBA to 5MBA in the next 5 year planning cycle.
2.3.5.1 FREE BASIC ELECTRICITY
Provision is made on the budget (14.9%) for the provision of free basic water, electricity and solid waste services from the equitable share. Approximately 38% of the households in Ikwezi benefit from Indigent Policy Assistance.
Ensure the following priority requirements:
x Community awareness campaign to save energy and to stimulate payment for utilized services;
x Strict implementation of credit control policy;
x Review the tariff structure;
x Electricity audit per area, including billing and payment rate;
x Review and update FBE indigent register (Ward Councillor to verify status);
x Address interim need of Waterford FBE (paraffin and candles);
x Apply by-law dealing with tampering and illegal connections;
x Finance to deal with the above.
x upgrade the maximum demand from 1 MBA to 5MBA in the next 5 year planning cycle.
x Address ward needs listed below.
2.3.5.2 WARD NEEDS 2014: ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY
Ward based planning was conducted throughout Ikwezi and the following electricity needs were raised.
Table 38: Electrictiy and Energy: Ward Needs for 2014/15 GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Ward Needs
Ward 1 (Waterford) Access to household electricity and street lights.
(Only the hall, church, shop and 1 residence dwelling is connected).
Install transformer to enable reticulation to houses and provide street lights
Ward 1 (Waterford) Not benefitting from FBE Consider alternative FBE (Paraffin) Ward 2 Upgrade electricity supply
Ward 3 Upgrading
Ward 4 Streetlights
Wolwefontein
Access to household electricity and street lights (12 Houses are not connected)
Source: Ikwezi Local Municipality ² Community Engagement 2014
2.3.5.3 Alternative energy ² solar technology Farm
The Municipality is involved in alternative energy sources, which are envisaged to position Ikwezi as a leading municipality in development of Renewable Energy. A feasibility study was conducted in Ikwezi by NASTEP (New Age Solar Technology Environmental Projects), which
advises the programme with regard to the most relevant technological option. As the Ikwezi solar project is sized to 5 GWh/a, the plant will generate electricity for approximately 5 500 homes (1.1MWh/per household). The capital investment requirement is estimated at R500m for land and infrastructure. A site of 10 ha will be required for the programme.
The feasibility study concluded that grants and subsidies will be fundamental to the facilitation of the growth of solar energy generation in South Africa. The project fits with the current National and ESKOM policies and is thus moving towards zero/low carbon emissions and renewable energy aimed at 2013.
The PV solar plant would occupy a significant area and unless it is well shielded, it is likely to be a prominent visual feature. It would combine the physical features of the large solar fitted with a small substation with a gas that is considered benign. Environmental consideration should be given nonetheless. The feasibility study confirms that the project is feasible.
An Independent Power Producer (IPP) was appointed in 2009. The IPP has submitted an application for a license from NERSA to commence with the project.