By Tandzile Dlamini (Intern)
MBABANE – The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has launched a national winter campaign named Power Shift Eswatini, aimed at ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply during the country’s peak demand season.
At a press conference held today, EEC Managing Director Ernest Mkhonta unveiled the campaign’s objectives, emphasizing collective responsibility and strategic energy use to protect the nation’s power grid.“As temperatures drop, the demand for electricity surges, placing significant pressure on the national grid,” said Mkhonta. “Power Shift Eswatini is our proactive solution, a call to action for every citizen, household, and business to help manage electricity demand and prevent system overload.”
Running from June to August, the campaign promotes load shifting, encouraging consumers to move energy intensive activities outside peak hours (6:00 AM–8:00 AM and 5:00 PM–8:00 PM). Unlike load shedding, which involves forced outages, load shifting is a voluntary and smarter way to balance national energy consumption.
EEC’s load management strategy is built on fairness and data driven scheduling. Areas will be rotated equitably to avoid frequent disruptions in the same locations. Priority will be given to critical services such as hospitals and emergency responders to ensure public safety.Mkhonta assured the public that detailed load management schedules will be released in advance, allowing residents and businesses to plan accordingly. “Our goal is not only to avoid blackouts but also to educate and empower consumers to use electricity more efficiently,” he said.
The campaign also tackles common misconceptions around energy consumption. Contrary to public myths, EEC clarified that electricity meters are not tampered with during winter, and no hidden charges are applied during peak hours. Increased power consumption is largely due to the higher use of heating appliances, geysers, and lighting during cold months.
Consumers are encouraged to adopt energy saving habits such as; Using energy efficient bulbs and appliances,cooking and doing laundry outside peak hours,reducing heater use by insulating homes and layering clothing and turning off unused electronics and using smart timers.While there may be no financial rewards for practicing load shifting, the benefits are tangible;fewer power cuts, lower electricity bills, and a more resilient national grid.
To ensure transparency and public engagement, EEC will provide regular updates through its website, social media platforms, and SMS alerts. Educational efforts will also include community outreach, radio discussions, billboards, and printed flyers.“This is not just an EEC initiative; it is a national effort,when we shift the way we use electricity, we shift toward a more sustainable, stable future for all, concluded Mkhonta.With Power Shift Eswatini, the message is clear, when we work together, everyone wins. Consumers are urged to play their part and help light the way to a brighter, more energy-secure Eswatini.
