In previous years, Overstrand Municipality installed approximately 6 400 geyser control units, primarily in Hermanus, Sandbaai, Kleinmond, and a few households in Franskraal, as part of its geyser load control system.
Although the remotely controlled system for switching off hot water cylinders has not been in regular use for many years, Overstrand Municipality is now reassessing the system at the renewed request of Eskom and the Minister of Energy. This decision is part of the Municipality’s ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and reducing load shedding.
The Municipality has arranged with the service provider to evaluate and activate the control system to explore the possibility of reactivating it. Part of this process involves operating the system without modifications to establish a baseline of its current performance and to assess how it can be upgraded moving forward.
The system helps reduce load during peak demand periods, contributing to the national electricity infrastructure. At the same time, it aids the Municipality in managing and controlling its electricity demand from Eskom.
The system will be activated for approximately three months to establish this baseline and determine where potential improvements can be made.
Starting from 16 February 2026, the system will be activated, and geysers will be switched off according to the following schedule. Residents are kindly asked to note these times and adjust accordingly, particularly those who manually control their geysers.
Schedule:
- Summer months (January – May and September – December)
Weekdays only: Switch-off times from 07:00 – 09:00 and 18:00 – 21:00. - Winter months (June – August)
Weekdays only: Switch-off times from 06:00 – 08:00 and 17:00 – 20:00.
Residents should adjust geyser usage accordingly, especially those who control their geysers manually.
