Energieverbruikspatrone van Swart huishoudings in die Wes-Natal streek voor elektrifisering

Abstract

The potential of this possible market had to be evaluated, as well as ESKOM's ability to supply and service this new market. To ensure that the market could be successfully serviced, information was gathered, processed and presented. This study addresses the Western Natal Region sector of the Black consumer Market. The prime objective was to establish the energy consumption patterns and habits of the black households. In addition, the inhabitants perceptions and attitudes of the inhabitants towards electricity and electrical appliances was explored, and finally the evaluation of the communities disposable income was researched. The survey was built around a structured questionnaire. Nine black townships were visited, namely: * Blaaubosch * Eastbourne * Edashi-Goodhome * Elandskop * Hopewel * Keats Drift * Qumeni * Trustfeed * Vaalkop. Three professionally trained black employees conducted personal house-to-house interviews. This survey study covered 1184 households. A non-likelihood experimental procedure was use to collect the information.

From the collected data, certain Demographic and Socio-Economic characteristics of the black households was analysed, with specific attention to the following three aspects: 1. The black consumer market has become one of the most rapidly developing markets in South Africa. Prior to ESKOM's new vision of "Electricity for All" The electricity sector in this market had remained relatively unexplored and untapped. It is estimated that the three million households currently without electricity, can be aptly served by ESKOM's excess electricity capacity. 2. The economic capability of the communities to meet their needs was researched, and the income and expenditure per household, per month was established. The incidence of small businesses, and the influence electricity will have on small business development, and the needs of the respondents and that of the community were identified and priorities. 3. Cognisance was taken of the customers fears of the safety of electricity, the perceived high cost of connection and the cost of the retailers electrical appliances. Energy, as the focal point, was researched in detail. The traditional energy sources used were established and investigated. Quantities used and for what purpose, plus their costs per energy unit, and the level of inconvenience to acquire that energy source was established. An assessment was made of the allocation of household income expanded to meet household needs with specific attention to what was spent on the various energy sources available to the householders. A measure of the competition of the relevant market is critical to any marketing thrust. In addition to the evaluation of these alternative (to electricity) energy sources, an evaluation of the existence of non-electric domestic appliances in the communities is required. Their costs and the possibility of replacing these items with electrical appliances is essential to the success of the "Electricity for All" campaign. Any significant energy switch from traditional sources to electricity will impact

on the supply of electricity. To measure this impact, traditional energy patterns for such communities were moduled and superimposed on the existing load profiles of the national grid. The new demands tend to fall into the on-peak highs and therefore have a major effect on the supply load profiles. To compensate for these new highs a new time-of-use tariff was introduced to shift on-peak loads. The business triangle is based on MONEY and PRODUCT but without the lead, the CUSTOMER, there is no business. Having dealt with the first two accepted cornerstones in the business triangle, the study then addresses the attitudes and perceptions of the people, the potential customers, who will purchase electricity as the preferred option to traditional energy sources. The perceptions and attitudes towards electricity were measured with regard to the benefits and disadvantages of electricity against traditional energy sources.