SMME Energy Demands

This project in partnership with the Fort Hare Institute of Social and Economic Research looked at ‘The Energy Demand Requirements of SMMEs in The Eastern Cape’. The research assessed the energy requirement and energy use patterns within small and survivalist SMME enterprises in the Eastern Cape. Some of the key findings were that regular power interruptions affected over 80% of the businesses in the study (prior to regular load shedding being introduced by Eskom early in 2008). It was found that many business owners preferred to use paraffin and there was also a general impression that paraffin is cheaper than electricity. Of the businesses surveyed, 86% had access to electricity, though largely via a pre-paid meter shared with other users.

Researchers: Nick Hamer (ISER) and (FHISER)

n.hamer@ru.ac.za