Welcome to DSM

Demand Side Management- the art of managing the use of electricity. We all expect to have the convenience of electricity at our fingertips.

We flick on switches without thinking that behind the supply of power to our homes and businesses is a complex chain of supply that stretches back hundreds of kilometers to power stations across the country.

To those in the industry, this supply chain is called Demand Side Management. It is a comprehensive process in which the planning, implementation and monitoring of the consumer’s electricity use- and the modifying of this use- is considered against the levels of electricity available in the power grid which supplies the nation.
The overall objective is to keep electricity supply flowing smoothly, for it to be used at a constant rate and avoiding massive “peaks” and “dips” in supply and demand. This avoids placing stress on the system.
By achieving this objective the flow of electricity is constant and therefore at its most effective. The costs associated with enerating power are also contained.

The benefits of Demand Side Management

Demand Side Management is crucial to promoting energy efficiency in South Africa, as it:

Reduces the demand on the electricity network
Delays the need for additional power stations to be built to meet demand for power
Keeps electricity costs down
Creates opportunities for the introduction of the creation and funding of incentives for projects and products

Using electricity efficiently – one of the keys to improving our environment

Effective Demand Side Management of electricity – the most widely used source of energy in South Africa – helps reduce environmental damage. Using electricity effectively means that less electricity has to be generated. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced and the sustainable use of electricity is achieved.
At peak electricity use time, Eskom generates more electricity to meet the needs. After the peak output is reduced, power stations stand idle- waiting for the next peak electricity resources before they come back on line.
The higher peak demand for electricity grows, the more new power stations are required. This requires massive capital investment and, in turn, pushes up consumer energy costs.
Keeping the flow of electricity more or less constant through the day through Demand Side Management supports the constant, reliable supply of electricity.
For every kilowatt-hour of electricity generation saved at a power station, the environment benefits through one kilogram less of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

The benefits of electricity efficiency

Using less electricity means: