State-owned power utility Eskom has begun screening a new football-themed ‘Power Alert' on various free-to-air television channels, which will run for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The first alert was broadcast on May 13 and the campaign will continue until July 16, five days after the tournament's final, which will be played at Soccer City, in Johannesburg, on July 11.

The alert provides a real-time status report on the country's electrical supply stability, and could also request the public's assistance should the system require demand-reduction support during the event, which starts on June 11, and which could attract more than 200 000 tourists.

The new alert incorporates a "referee" holding up one of four colour-coded cards - a graphic which replaces the circular gauge that has been employed since the Western Cape blackouts of 2006.

A green card indicates stable supply, yellow indicates strain on the system and that nonessential appliances should be switched off, while red warns that the system is under considerable stress. Should the referee hold up a black card, it will be an indication that load shedding is already under way.

Eskom's Energy Efficiency Demand Side Management GM Nosipho Maphumulo reports that, besides the television alerts, other public announcements are also being planned, including: power-related messages on inbound international flights; print advertisements in inflight and other magazines; reminders on aeroplane fold-up tables and restaurant bill folders; washrooms message boards; and bank ATM screens; and moving billboards on public buses.

A recent survey involving 400 face-to-face interviews revealed that some 69% of the respondents indicated that they were likely to implement power-saving actions, especially when the gauge indicated high levels of power consumption.