In response to the energy challenges facing South Africa, Eskom has established an Integrated Demand Management (IDM) division. IDM is dedicated to ensuring short-term security of electricity supply through coordinating and consolidating the various initiatives aimed at optimising energy use and balancing electricity supply and demand. A key aspect of this demand side management programme is the promotion and implementation of more energy-efficient technologies, processes and behaviours amongst all consumers.
IDM’s role is to ensure single ownership of demand side management strategies, objectives and operations throughout Eskom. It takes a market-driven approach to understanding and meeting consumer requirements and provides a platform from which Eskom can collaborate with government, external stakeholders and consumers.
A central focus of IDM is a series of large-scale Demand Side Management programmes, including:
- Energy Efficiency Demand Side Management (EEDSM) – to identify and promote more efficient electricity use through technology enhancements and behavioural change.
- Energy Management Programme (EMP) – assisting Corporate Customers to enhance energy efficiency.
- Solar Water Heating Programme – providing financial incentives for consumers to switch to solar water heating.
- Power awareness and communications campaigns.
- Coordinated internal energy efficiency programme.
- Energy conservation scheme (ECS) – to achieve a 10% energy reduction amongst consumers using more than 25GWh per annum.
- Demand Response (DR) – system operator pays customers to reduce load on instruction to balance demand and supply.
- Internal energy efficiency programme:
– To achieve a 15% energy reduction for non essential consumption (Eskom buildings and substations) by 2015 as per the National Energy efficiency Strategy for South Africa
– To internally save 1 billion kWh by 2012/2013 (includes above savings in buildings and substations plus thermal efficiency improvements, line losses reduction and employee rollout programmes)
