By Ashleigh Brown, journalist, Justmoney
With electricity prices on the rise, many customers will want to know how to reduce their electricity usage. And now, thanks to Eskom, there's an app for just that.
The app will provide information on the forecasted status of the national power system, offer basic information about power outages and there’s an in-app function, called ‘Talk to Eskom’, which will provide customers with a means to communicate with Eskom.
"We built the app to give electricity customers and users better and more direct access to information that applies to their own consumption profile," said Sal Laher, Eskom CIO and divisional executive for the Group Information Technology Division.
Fin24 reported that the app, which was launched on Thursday 7 August, had already scored more than 1 000 downloads on the Google Play app store alone, by the morning of Friday 8 August.
Sign up
When signing up for the app, customers are asked which type of appliances they have in their house. For example: a pool pump, geyser, gas or electric stove, normal or power saving bulbs, etc. This is to help the app determine how much power they use, through the appliances they have.
This allows the app to suggest which appliances consumers should switch off and when, in order to effectively save electricity.
The app can also send notifications, if enabled, about current electricity usage, and will be used for various announcements.
Upgrades
Eskom has said that the app will be improved.
The app will soon include the ability to enter meter readings, buy prepaid electricity directly and provide regular updates about the status of the system.
The app can be downloaded for free on Android and IOS devices . Simply look for ‘MyEskom’ in the app store. For all other devices, a mobi site is available too for free. Go to www.myeskom.co.za, and sign up.