Why do we experience power outages The electricity supply industry is divided into three main segments – generation, transmission and distribution Each of these has distinct roles which feed into each other to ensure that electricity supply meets demand at all times A failure in any of these segments of the electricity supply industry may result in a power outage
In Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) accounts for much of the installed generation capacity although there are some Independent Power Producers (IPPs) which also feed into the grid This total installed capacity represents the sum total of all the power the country could generate from the different power plants In practice, the actual power generated is often less than this installed capacity because of variations in demand and other factors affecting plant performance If for any reason, there is a shortage of generation supply, for example unexpected failure of a generation unit, then there is not enough electricity to keep everyone’s fridge running
Good planning, ensures adequacy of available generation resources and maintains a reserve margin Transmission and distribution system failures can also result in power outages The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) is responsible for transmission of electricity from the power stations, distribution of electricity and retailing to consumers While failures in the distribution network are more common, these typically affect a relatively small area
On the other hand, transmission failures are less frequent but can have widespread impact especially where there are regional interconnections across countries Both the frequency and duration of power outages, reflect the service quality and have a bearing on consumer willingness to pay for electricity In some cases, outages are planned, to allow maintenance of either generation, transmission or distribution infrastructure Of 5-star hotels and knee-jerk reactions
Recently, an underground cable fault affected several residential and commercial consumers in Harare, including the prominent Meikles Hotel
Social media was awash with screenshots of a letter communicated to guests by hotel management who had resorted to deliver buckets of hot water to residents upon request The hotel had been operating on a backup diesel generator and was unable to provide air conditioning and hot running water for the duration of the fault One can think of several reasons why a leading hotel should consider more sustainable long-term solutions in future Source: Business Times
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Source: Businesstimes
