Why SurePower(SP)? 

Mobile phones are commonly referred to as "Africa's Computer". The power of this service, is the sharing of real-time information to mobile users, of electricity power disruptions forecasts, that will enable the user to participate effectively in ratiolizing the use of alternative energy sources, avoid huge consequential losses,that will not be possible otherwise   More than 70% of economically active inhabitants in South Africa use mobile phones, and apply SMS communications as an alternative to voice.  SurePower provide an effective mobile communication service for the Electrical Power Distributors.  An advice relating to their neighborhood of an impending power load shedding is provided JUST IN TIME by quality messaging to participating consumers.  Power Distributors are now enabled by the SurePower(SP) service to ascertain in which geographical area the affected electricity user is.

SP conducts an effective survey by ringfencing all the participating mobile users who would be affected by a specific circuit break.  This conceptualized PowerCell would be the definition of the group of interested mobile users, that need to be advised during a specific timeslot in a day.  SurePower also makes possible the complementary benefit, where a Power Distributor can confer with partnering users on how to cooperate in using the limited power resources.

What are the SurePower features: 

• Send power interruptions predictions to mobile users relating only to their suburb via cost-effective SMS alerts.

• Access a mobile WAP internet website for members of the participating group.

• The Utility company benefits from the PowerCell survey for planning purposes

• The facility provides the capacity of conducting various PR interactions with Mobile user involvement.

Who is behind SurePower:

The team is lead by Pieter Henning; who is a Telecom Engineer with 30 years experience, based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

When are the Power Distributor and the mobile Users involved in the service?
The Power Distributor would advertise in the local media that interested users must SMS their Postal code when they experience the next triggered power outage.  The SMS information received in the 30 minute window period would be sufficient for SP to calculate the Powercell

In addition:

• Workshops have been held with management of the main Power Distributing Utilities in South Africa, after the onset of major black-out events, that are expected to re-occur over the next 6 years.

Good Public Relations and communications are required in order to minimize the consequential damage by implementing alternative resources.

• Developing a specification for a Workflow management company to partner in producing a Load Shedding forecast tool for Power Distributors in order that a prediction of a probable power outage event may be shared with residents and commuters.

• Presented the need for a mobile messaging service by the Electricity Utility to mobile users at a Public Hearing held by NERSA, the National Electricity Regulator of South Africa.

Location