A provincial forum to deal with the electricity crisis will be established in Gauteng -- this will include Eskom and other key stakeholders, said the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) on Monday.

The decision was made during a two day lekgotla meeting where the provincial programme of action for the year ahead -- including the challenge of blackouts -- was discussed.

"We noted the outcomes of the Cabinet decisions on the interventions to resolve the challenge. "In this regard the PEC agreed on embarking on an Energy Saving Campaign to be conducted by the ANC in Gauteng," said spokesman Nkeke Kekana.

Kekana said the forum would discuss a range of issues including planning, communication and the development of a systematic approach to power cuts agreed to by municipalities. He said the aim was to minimise the negative impact of electricity outages on the Gauteng economy.

Key aspects of the campaign would include ensuring the immediate installation of energy saving light bulbs in homes, businesses and government offices. Important institutions that provided essential services would be exempt from having their electricity cut ie. hospitals, clinics, courts, prisons, police stations.

The campaign also aimed to encourage communities to use gas as an alternative source of energy for cooking and heating in homes and the hospitality industry.

"The meeting further agreed that government, working with Eskom and the private sector should work towards switching to solar heated geysers, solar powered street lights and traffic lights -- as well as to speed up the building of nuclear power stations," said Kekana.