Wonder energy saving 'contraption' launched

The Computerised Electricity System (CES), which can even warn the consumer by phone that the fridge is not working properly, was launched in Gaborone last week.

The Israeli-made apparatus is powered by a sophisticated algorithm that enables internal load management and simultaneously allows the utility to save power, depending on the need.

CES will be distributed in Botswana by Sonergy Botswana, a local investment company whose South African parent of the same name has rights to the product.

Speaking at the launch of the wonder contraption at the Gaborone Sun last Friday, Sonergy's Chairman Ernest Molome said the product is ideal for the Botswana, especially in the face of the current power shortages in the SADC region.

Molome said management of energy is the responsibility of all citizens and that CES is the only apparatus that can help in that regard. Its key advantage is that it allows the utility to reduce consumers' consumption based on consumers' preferences and pre-set priorities. It is also affordable to all income groups.

In an interview with Mmegi, Molome said the product has a comprehensive approach to real time electricity management and is designed in such a way that it can detect a power supply shortage.

Molome's colleague Monty Robert said his company sees CES as complementing Government's efforts to encourage Batswana to embrace energy-saving initiatives.

Robert, who is a director in Sonergy Botswana, said the apparatus can be used for both domestic and industrial purposes and can replace the mechanical electricity distribution board.

The Chief Technical Officer at Professional Development Institute (PDEV), Ayal Rosenberg, said the apparatus protects appliances against lightening and electricity shutdowns in case of fire outbreaks. It also prevents fires by detecting bad connections and disconnects loads when standard supply voltage is exceeded.

Resenberg said the product incorporates all safety features and capabilities of existing electricity panels. With its switch parameters, the equipment has each output circuit better defined and protected.

'The system helps reduce electricity consumption by 20 percent but looks at priority areas such as fridges,' he said.

The apparatus can be used in health facilities as well as for street and traffic lights. The system can be connected to a cellphone through the saver and the saver can send a message to the consumer from the system indicating that the refrigerator is not working properly, if that is the case.

With streetlights, the system can turn the lights on when it is dark and automatically switch them off when the sun rises.

The Computerised Electrical Systems' General Manager, Lupu Wittner, said the apparatus has a mechanism to detect faults and monitors current. Wittner said one of the most important aspects of CES is its automatic meter reading - standard metering of general consumption offering real time metering of consumption of each appliance giving accurate figures in hours and days.

A representative from the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) described the system as convenient as it can also replace the Repo control system which automatically switches off geysers during peak hours.