Development of an adaptable load management system for different household categories in South Africa

Abstract

South African residential electricity demand is rising, requiring efficient load management to optimise energy consumption and prevent grid instability. Traditional household load management methods are often inflexible. They fail to adapt to different household income levels and energy consumption patterns. This results in uneven energy savings and potential grid instability. To address this, the study developed a MATLAB model to control appliance usage and manage peak demand. The model uses a prioritised, staggered switch-off mechanism of appliances for household types classified as low-, middle-, and high-income when predefined load limit thresholds are exceeded. If total power consumption exceeds these limits, the model switches off appliances in a prioritised and staggered manner, starting with the geyser, HVAC, stove, and plugs, while keeping lights on for safety. The MATLAB model integrated load profiles for each household category from literature on South African household consumption. The findings demonstrate a maximum reduction for the three household groups over 24-hour duration. This study contributes an adaptable load management model that incorporates both household income and appliance usage patterns. Unlike traditional methods that assume a uniform load reduction or shedding strategy, the staggered switch-off mechanism provides reliable control and ensures equitable energy savings across income levels.