MUNICIPAL FUNCTIONS
3.8.5 ELECTRICITY
Load shedding continues being experienced due to the Eskom challenges with their power stations.
As in the previous financial years of 2017/18 and 2018/19 Stellenbosch Municipality continues to contribute to Eskom’s electricity supply stability, mainly with the following projects:
The Demand Side Management
The municipality continued with the Energy and Demand Management project which started in 2009, to replace inefficient street light fittings with energy efficient (LED) fittings.
Hot Water Load Control Project
The municipality has continued to install hot water load control device in the Franschhoek area, which will enable shedding of all geysers during peak times, hence making an energy saving at the end of the month. A total of 9 223 load control device have been installed in Stellenbosch area and Franschhoek.
All new developments are being issued with load control devices to manage demand.
Electrification of Informal Settlements
Through the INEP grant received the municipality managed to electrify informal settlement structures that are in the areas where electricity services are available. All the structures that are electrified received free basic electricity (100 kWh).
Pniel take-over
Stellenbosch Municipality finally took over from Drakenstein Municipality the electrical network at Pniel, Hollandsche Molen, Johannesdal and the surrounding farms with effect from 15 February 2019.
However, the network proved to have been unkept judging by the number of infrastructure failures and the state the infrastructure is found in, when attending to such outages. The municipality, as a result of these huge number of infrastructure failures, instituted an investigation which revealed that a number of the infrastructure either need to be replaced or refurbished and in some instances a complete new engineering arrangement to be made.
With the limited financial resources, funding is made available as and when to realise the projects, as per the report, in order to ensure some degree of electricity stability in Pniël.
3.8.5.1 Electricity Service Delivery Statistics
Table 3:14: Electricity Notified Maximum Demand Major Towns Notified Maximum
Demand (NMD) Maximum Demand Growth
(NMD) Maximum Demand Peak (NMD)
Stellenbosch 60 MVA 0.6 MVA 56.3MVA
Franschhoek 10 MVA 0.48 MVA 10.25 MVA
Cloetesville 16 MVA 1.58MVA 16.03MVA
Pniël 9 MVA N/A 7.883MVA
The electricity losses as at 30 June 2020 were 7.31% which is still within the acceptable industry standard of 11%, however there was an increase in losses as compared to last financial years of (2017/18) and (2018/19). The reason for that is increase of illegal connections and the new network Stellenbosch Municipality took over from Drakenstein Municipality in February 2019 has an effect on the losses.
An alarming 48% in losses was discovered by investigation conducted on the Pniël network. Due to this high number, which is abnormal, it is unlikely that these were only the losses, rather an indication of either a faulty metering equipment of meters that were not transferred over by Drakenstein to Stellenbosch and as such, maybe still continue to pay the consumption to Drakenstein. The municipality is urgently looking for a solution to address this.
The issue of severe staff shortage continues being a challenge and difficulty in attracting suitably qualified and competent persons continues being experienced. It is vital for the effective functioning of electricity services to be able to attract competent, skilled and sufficiently experienced personnel.
Resolving the staff shortages will improve the current working conditions of staff.
3.8.5.2 Electricity Service Delivery Levels
Electricity Service Delivery Levels
During the 2019/20 financial year the municipality continued with the programme of the renewal and upgrading of old equipment reaching the end of its life cycle.
The replacement of old low voltage overhead networks has been completed in la Collinne and some parts of Cloetesville. The municipality will continue in the next financial year with the replacement in Cloetesville.
3.8.5.3 Capital Expenditure – Electricity Services
Table 3:15: Capital Expenditure as at 30 June: Electricity Services
Capital Projects Adjustment Budget Actual Expenditure Variance from Adjustment Budget R
Stand-by Generator 9 355 144 8 107 426 -13.34%
General Systems Improvements -
Stellenbosch 4 908 238 4 753 823 -3.15%
Integrated National Electrification
Programme 11 160 000 10 734 688 -3.81%
Integrated National Electrification
Programme (Enkanini) 4 480 000 4 428 126 -1.16%
Energy Efficiency and Demand Side
Management 2 000 000 1 999 711 -0.01%
Specialised Vehicles 2 000 000 1 984 402 -0.78%
Network Cable Replace 11 Kv 2 000 000 820 676 -58.97%
Only the 7 largest capital projects are listed
Electricity Services have spent, 91.42% of the capital budget for the financial year.
Description 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Household Prepaid audited audited audited unaudited unaudited
Energy: (above minimum level) Electricity (at least minimum service level)
(No. of conventional meters) 6 486 6 486 6 453 4 715 4 601
Electricity - prepaid (minimum service level)
(No. of prepaid meters) 17 504 17 504 25 946 27 825 28 366
Minimum Service Level and Above Sub-Total 23 990 23 990 32 399 32 540 32 967
Minimum Service Level and Above Percentage 79.67 86.7 80.08 85.51 86.04
Energy: (below minimum level)
Electricity (< minimum service level) 0 0 0 0 0
Electricity - prepaid (< min. service level) 4 460 4 460 6 453 0 0
Other energy sources N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Below Minimum Service Level Sub-Total 4 460 4 460 6 453 0 0
Below Minimum Service Level Percentage 13.27 13.27 12.32 0 0
Total Number Of Households 48 002 48 002 52 374 32 540
3.8.5.4 Total employees – Electricity
Total Employees – Electricity
Job Level* Posts* Employees* Vacancies (full time
equivalents) Vacancies (as a % of total posts)
Number %
18 – 16 1 1 0 0%
15 – 13 12 8 4 3.03%
12 – 10 36 8 28 19.7%
9 – 7 44 32 12 9.09%
6 – 4 39 11 28 5,45%
3 – 0 0 0 0 0%
Total 132 60 72 37.27%
* Employee statistics will be imprecise due to the implementation of the 2017 structure, the TASK gradings of 2015 and the revised TASK gradings currently used by the Human Resources Department which are based on actual evaluations or benchmarking against industry norms. The difference between gradings implemented up to 2015 and the new gradings on the municipality’s payroll system creates some anomalies i.t.o. accurate figures on job and occupation levels. The municipality is busy
rectifying these anomalies through the implementation of the new structure and with the implementation of standard industry norms and TASK gradings.