Swaziland electricity demand down

9 November 2012 – Power usage in Swaziland has declined from 204 MW in 2011 to 200 MW in 2012. Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC) general manager customer services Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze says, “This is bad for the economy as it shows there is a problem. SEC is losing customers as some are switched off but later reconnect themselves. The unit price has increased by 100% from R0.49 to around R1 because of massive power shortage in the region.”

The number of units sold by SEC is also diminishing because some companies, particularly those in the sugar belt have opted to generate their own power. One of these was Illovo, which SEC also purchased power from.

SEC has invested some R234 million to enhance its efficiency. Part of this has gone towards a new customer service building in Manzini with a great deal of the remainder invested in substations around the country.