George Municipality is electrifying a number of informal settlements in George.
An informal settlement master plan for the improvement of services to residents in these areas has been drawn up to determine priorities.
According to Mr Kevin Grünewald, senior manager of Electrotechnical Services, a project for the electrification of 100 houses in Thembalethu and 16 houses in Borchards has been completed. The electrification of 70 houses in Kleinkrantz is almost complete.
A number of other electrification projects in Wilderness, Borchards, Parkdene, Protea Park, Golden Valley and Syferfontein are in various stages of construction and will be completed by July 2010.
Electricity is supplied to these homes (ready board with plugs and light) and pre-payment meters are installed. General lighting in each area for security reasons is also installed.
Funds for electrification projects are usually provided by the DoE (Department of Energy). However, the Municipality also makes funds available annually on its capital budget.
Grünewald says the exact same streetpoles erected in formal areas are put up in the informal areas. Up to four lights can then be attached to a pole, the pole being strategically placed among informal structures.
Grünewald says the municipality is pleased to be able to make a difference in these residents’ homes by providing them with electricity. All consumers in George pay for their electricity consumption, however, residents who have a very low income may have their first 70 kWh of electricity per month free if they comply with the requirements of the indigent policy of Council.
"A few residents in areas such as Wilderness, where many choose to settle because of the natural beauty, oppose streetlighting and any development and we do try to accommodate their requests wherever possible. However, in terms of the Integrated Development Plan, the majority of the residents living on erf 329, Wilderness Heights have been pleading for the supply of electricity and the installation of lighting for a number of years."
Tariff increases
Grünewald confirmed that the municipality is awaiting detailed guidelines from Salga (South African Local Government Association) and Nersa (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) before any information regarding tariff increases can be distributed.
The good news is that the municipal tariff increase should be lower than the Eskom increase.
Article: Yvonne Botha
A pole with four lights in the Kleinkrantz area.
