Testing of geyser ripple-control in a few metro areas
26 February 2025
The City’s Energy Directorate will be conducting testing of its geyser ripple-control systems between 3 and 7 March 2025. Only a few geysers in these areas will be impacted: Uitkamp; Kraaifontein (Marais; Langeberg); Durbanville (substation); Eversdal; Strand (Clinic substation); Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay; Feige and Langverwacht (Welverwacht substation areas).
What selected customers need to know:
No action is required from affected residential customers.
Identified ripple-control geysers will be switched on and off remotely by the City over five days between 3 and 7 March 2025.
Switch off durations will be for five minutes every 30 minutes between 18:00 and 20:00.
Only a few geysers in these areas will be impacted: Uitkamp; Kraaifontein (substation areas in Marais; Langeberg); Durbanville (substation area); Eversdal; Strand (Clinic substation area); Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay; Feige and Langverwacht (Welverwacht substation areas).
These customers might hear a clicking on the load control relay operating box (situated near the electrical distribution board) while the testing is under way.
A capacity test will also be performed over the off-peak period and all of the geysers in the specified areas will be switched off at 22:00 and switched on at 04:00 to determine the number of active receivers still on the system.
Ripple-control is a process whereby the City’s Energy Directorate controls the customer’s geyser. Systems were predominantly installed in the metro eastern suburbs from 1978 onwards as a way to reduce the electricity load in the peak times to lower costs. The programme was reduced in 2008 when Eskom’s load-shedding began but was halted as the load-shedding intensity worsened over time.
In accordance with the regulations, the ripple-control testing checks that there is a working signal command from the City’s electrical substation points to the residential ripple controlled geyser and this test is required as part of maintaining electrical infrastructure.
In the unlikely event that customers experience a problem with water heating after the testing has been completed, they may please call the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089. Energy teams will assist to restore power as soon as possible.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
