The City’s Energy Directorate will be conducting testing of its geyser ripple-control systems from Wednesday 12 November to Wednesday 3 December.
The testing will take place in the Langverwacht area of Kuils River, as well as parts of Durbanville, Eversdal and Kraaifontein.
Residents in these areas do not need to take any action during the testing period.
As part of the process, identified ripple-control geysers will be switched on and off remotely by the City.
The switch-off periods will occur between 19:00 and 21:00 from Monday to Friday, after which geysers should automatically switch back on.
Some residents may notice a clicking sound coming from the load control relay operating box, located near the electrical distribution board, while the tests are under way. This is normal and indicates that the system is functioning as intended.
Why the testing is necessary
Ripple-control technology allows the City’s Energy Directorate to remotely manage customers’ geysers to reduce demand on the electricity grid when needed. These systems were originally installed in the eastern suburbs of the metro from 1978, but the programme has not been active for some time.
The current round of testing ensures that there is a working signal link between the City’s electrical substations and the residential ripple-controlled geysers.
This verification is a key part of maintaining and upgrading the City’s electrical infrastructure in line with regulatory requirements.
Call the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 if you experience a problem with water heating after the testing has been completed. Technical teams will assist to restore power as soon as possible.
