Subcouncil resolution details

Subcouncil 17

Agenda item no

17SUB 7/9/2019

Subject

PRESENTATION: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE OF ENERGY - OVERVIEW OF SEM

Meeting date

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Resolution

Noted

Date closed

Thursday, October 03, 2019

Resolution detail

Mrs L Weideman, Director: Sustainable Energy Markets (SEM), gave a detailed presentation on Preparing for the future energy: Overview of SEM. She mentioned the following:

They work towards energy security and energy diversification and to drive innovation in energy supply in the City.
Look at how the City can provide / support access by low income households to the best possible energy services which are sustainable.
They will be looking at the energy for the future – the City needed to look at all the options and be pro-active in implementations of electricity projects.

To co-ordinate and drive the City’s climate change mitigation and transversal work.
They a fairly new department and their budget is limited.
They have a very informative website where anyone can get information on load shedding, solar systems, generating electricity, etc.
They did some research on the low income level and non-electrifiable areas – they will work closely with Electricity with the role out of solar geysers.

Cllr Y Adams wanted to know whether the City was compelled to generate its own electricity because of Eskom’s instability. He also wanted to know if the City was getting off the international grid and when can the City go on its own. He said that Eskom cannot find solutions due to corruption and there would probably be more load shedding.

Cllr Kleinschmidt said that the SC had a very informative site visit to Koeberg Power Station and must commend the officials as they are working very hard to keep the lights on. He said that the climate change affect all of us and that a holistic approach was very important.

Mrs Weideman responded that there were some issues around Eskom and that there will always be a risk of load shedding. She said that the City was looking at innovative ways to supply electricity. She also said that the City will not be going completely of the grid and that it would be cheaper if there was a national solution.

Ald March thanked the official for the informative presentation and said that he was pleased to hear that the City would be assisting consumers to install solar geysers. He agreed that it was important to work together as the Cllrs also know the needs of the people.

RESOLVED that:

The content of the Presentation: Preparing for the Future of Energy - Overview of SEM be noted.