https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/city-power-starts-rollout-of-new-smart-meters-in-joburg/

1) This will enable pre-paid users to load tokens after November next year
2) This will enable the City to implement their load limiting scheme

22 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/city-power-starts-rollout-of-new-smart-meters-in-joburg/

1) This will enable pre-paid users to load tokens after November next year
2) This will enable the City to implement their load limiting scheme

For those curious on the ins-and-outs of Load Limiting, more info on that here and here, from the latter link it sounds like during load-limiting we'd get powered-off remotely if our use exceeds 10A (so around 230V * 10A = 2.3kW); preceded by a warning via SMS. If this truly does reduce the frequency of load shedding then I'm game.

But if the power comes back post-load-shedding and I can't heat my hot water for a shower because limiting is still in effect, I'm going to hand CoJ over to my wife to explain the cold showers!

I think it's a step in the right direction. In my neck of the woods around midday on a sunny day our grid voltage is approaching 300 volts which I'm guessing is because the solar panels are reducing what we are using from the grid.

2 hours ago, JayMardern said:

For those curious on the ins-and-outs of Load Limiting, more info on that here and here, from the latter link it sounds like during load-limiting we'd get powered-off remotely if our use exceeds 10A (so around 230V * 10A = 2.3kW); preceded by a warning via SMS. If this truly does reduce the frequency of load shedding then I'm game.

But if the power comes back post-load-shedding and I can't heat my hot water for a shower because limiting is still in effect, I'm going to hand CoJ over to my wife to explain the cold showers!

I shouldn't think the limiting would stop the pulses that control the ripple switches. 

In theory it's a good idea. It requires everybody to do their bit by keeping consumption down during load shedding slots. Not unlike the COCT's "power heroes" program, although COCT actually provide an incentive in the form of credits on your account. They did something similar in parts of the UK last (N hemisphere) winter. 

On a related note, Eskom are now saying that roof top solar is having a significant impact. They can get an idea of how much of it is installed by measuring demand at set times on overcast days, and then at the same times on sunny days. It's saving at least a stage of load shedding during the day, not so much at night. Does this mean that load limiting in COJ would be more aggressive on gloomy days? 

The initial talk was about a 10A limit. That's actually doable, especially if you don't have a conventional geyser for water heating. But I think businesses may still have a problem. Maybe they will apply it only to meters on residential tariffs. IDK, just thinking (it can get one into trouble). But with a couple of timer switches and a schedule, most homes should be able to cope, I think, and would this much better than actual shedding.