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Welcome Address 4 65th AMEU Convention 2016 Des van Rooyen, Minister of COGTA The AMEU promotes the quality of service and management excellence in the field of electricity supply in the interest of national energy efficiency. I congratulate the association and commend its achievements. Your association contributes to the development of the municipal electricity supply sector in a variety of ways, and contributes to national policy development for the sector. This enables knowledge sharing amongst members with regard to all aspects of municipal electricity provision, including matters such as equipment specifications, test results, new trends, tariff structures and loss control techniques. The association is invaluable, especially for smaller municipalities which might not have the capacity and its contribution is an indication of the professionalism of municipal electrical officials and their commitment to delivering quality and reliable energy services to the South African citizens. Municipalities and businesses are hard-hit by the theft and damage to infrastructure and government recognises the devastation that this issue brings to cities. It is within this context that the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) of my department has in the past year supported 75 municipalities in the development of new infrastructure as well as the refurbishment of existing ones in an effort to improve the provision of services. Since 1994, South Africa has made tremendous progress in increasing access to basic services, including the key municipal services of water, sanitation, electricity, refuse removal as well as roads and storm water. Our major challenge now is to improve the functionality of the infrastructure so as to provide services to the citizens. Keynote address at AMEU Convention 2016 There is a need to build sound local government institutions, with capable staff, and efficient and effective administrative processes. I expect your conference will confirm that the future for the electricity industry is indeed bright, amid all the challenges within the sector. These range from how best to utilise smart meters and whether the option that South Africa moves to a pre-paid system of electricity utilisation is a viable one, to the challenges posed by a fast-moving technological landscape that may make jobs and functions redundant. Des van Rooyen, Minister of COGTA Ladies and gentlemen, a warm welcome to the 65th Convention of the Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU). Let me extend my sincere gratitude to the Emfuleni Local Municipality for their preparedness to host this auspicious occasion. I am proud to introduce the theme for this convention, “Electricity: Landscape of the Future”. The technical sessions over the next three days will take an acute focus on new models for municipal electricity utilities, the role of women in electricity, asset management and industry governance and regulation. Without getting into too much detail, this year’s convention will attempt to reconcile the principal theme in relation to the complementary sub- themes relating to alternative energy sources, embedded generation, demand side management, smart grids, asset management, safety, health and environmental risk. The point is to dissect these complementary sub-categories so that we can understand the electricity landscape and its trajectory. I welcome you all to the 65th AMEU Convention 2016. Sicelo Xulu, AMEU president Welcome address by the AMEU president Sicelo Xulu, AMEU president Invitation 2017 MMC Annette Lovemore of Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality has invited the AMEU to hold its 26th Technical Convention in Port Elizabeth in October 2017.
