eskom
These cases are about an electrification project being undertaken by one of the largest utility companies in the world [Eskom]. The company has the goal of electrifying over 1.75 million homes (~9 million people), who were previously denied access to electricity under Apartheid, by the year 2000. However, as the reader will come to realize many unforeseen social, economic, and technical problems have arisen within the electrification process, which has called for creative management practices by Eskom.
Case A - Introduction to the Electrification Program
This case sets the stage for understanding the electrification program. For students are typically unable to understand a 3rd world climate and the need for electricity. Therefore, this case, with the use of appendices, will help the students understand the South African experience and how the electrification program was developed. This case will then take the students into the initial design constraints that the company faced with the electrification program and the strategy that was applied to such constraints. The case will end with questions dealing with the costs of the program, the need to supply electricity, environmental issues, and how to promote sustainable communities.
Case B - Culture of Non-Payment
Under Apartheid, non-payment was used as a form of protest. This culture of non-payment has inundated the South African economy and has adversely affected businesses in the country. This case focuses on the costs facing Eskom due to non-payment and how Eskom developed a strategy to deal with such a problem.
Case C - Electrical Tampering
After electrifying areas, Eskom noticed that the amount of electricity being consumed by areas was less than the amount of revenues coming from those areas for the electricity. Soon Eskom discovered that people were tampering with the electrical grid and tapping electricity illegally. This case focuses on how Eskom dealt with this issue and how they didn't notice forms of tampering internally.
Case D - Rural Electrification
In electrifying the 1.75 million households, Eskom typically provided connections to people who lived near existing power grids. However, Eskom now had to electrify people who lived hundreds of kilometers from any existing grid, which meant a huge capital expenditure just to extend the grid for further connections. This case focuses on what strategy Eskom developed to deal with electrifying these type of households. |