Technology management in the deregulated electricity distribution industry : the South African case

Abstract

The subject of deregulation of electricity utilities has, in the past two decades, dominated the discussions on global Electricity Supply Industries (ESIs). Deregulation may be viewed as the withdrawal of state regulatory powers from the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power to facilitate liberalised power markets. The key drivers for deregulation in South Africa are global competitiveness; a quest for local industrial development through cost-effective services; equitable and sustainable power supplies and the social empowerment of communities through the eradication of poverty. The present Electricity Distribution Industry (EDI), which is a component of the ESI, is made up of Eskom Distribution and about 368 municipal distributors. At present, both these entities run their businesses according to differing “business” principles. With technology being one of the driving forces of economic growth, this article analyses the deregulated EDI and proposes a technology management model that can be adopted after deregulation.

Gedurende die afgelope twee dekades oorheers die deregulering van elektrisiteitsvoorsiening besprekings oor die globale voorsiening van elektrisiteit. Deregulering beteken die verwydering van staatsbeheer oor die opwekking, transmissie en verspreiding van elektrisiteit om sodoende geliberaliseerde drywingsmarkte te ondersteun. Die aansporing vir deregulering in Suid-Afrika gaan om globale mededingendheid, om ondersteuning vir die ontwikkeling van plaaslike industrieë deur koste-effektiewe dienslewering, en om die voorsiening van gangbare en volhoubare kragbronne vir die bemagtiging van gemeenskappe vir die bekamping van armoede. Tans bestaan die elektriesiteitsverspreidingsbedryf uit Eskom-verspreiding en ongeveer 368 munisipale verspreiders. Hierdie samestelling maak onderling gebruik van uiteenlopende sakebeginsels. Hierdie artikel hou 'n tegnologiese bestuursmodel voor vir 'n gedereguleerde elektrisiteitsverspreidingstelsel.