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Journal of Energy in Southern Africa

versión On-line ISSN 2413-3051
versión impresa ISSN 1021-447X

J. energy South. Afr. vol.19 no.1 Cape Town  2008

 

The impact of electricity crises on the consumption behaviour of small and medium enterprises

 

 

A Von KetelhodtI; A WöckeII

ISasol Limited
IIGordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria

 

 


ABSTRACT

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will play a key role in future economic and social strategies in South Africa. However, we find that SMEs are particularly vulnerable to shocks in their external environment due to a general lack of skills and resources. This is critical as the future demand for electricity in South Africa is likely to outstrip supply and electricity will become increasingly unreliable and expensive. We surveyed 250 SMEs in Cape Town and found that the prevailing policy methods of changing electricity consumption behaviour: information campaigns, increasing prices, and providing rebates for energy savings, have had limited results and are unsustainable when applied to SMEs.

Keywords: Small and medium enterprises, electricity supply, electricity crisis, Cape Town, consumption


 

 

Full text available only in pdf format.

 

 

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Received 7 May 2007
Revised 20 December 2007

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