Mr. Kapata has told ZNBC news in Livingstone in a telephone interview that government banned the manufacturing and importation of ordinary bulbs and that those doing so are committing a crime.
And Mr. Kapata says ZESCO will no longer be distributing energy saving bulbs because it is costly on the power utility company.
He says the power utility has distributed over 3 million energy saving bulbs countrywide, a move that has seen ZESCO save 1-hundred and 35mega watts.
The ZESCO spokesperson has urged the public to desist buying ordinary bulbs.
Meanwhile a check in shops and houses found that some people have switched to using energy saving bulbs while others are still using ordinary bulbs.
Those talked to by ZNBC news said while the energy saving bulbs are better than the ordinary ones, they are a bit expensive forcing people to buy ordinary ones
I need ordinary bulbs for their heating producing ability as I need them for my chicken run. So in their absence what does ZESCO recommend I use?
Brooder Lamp
You’ll need a brooder lamp to keep the chicks at the right temperature. Purchase a 250-watt infrared heat lamp, preferably a red bulb instead of a white.
You can find these at feed and hardware stores. You’ll also need to purchase a reflector and a clamp for mounting the bulb. Don’t go DIY here; you’re asking for a fire hazard. Make sure you get the wire guard that goes underneath the bulb, too. When hanging this over shavings, the guard makes sure that if the lamp falls, it’s less likely to start a fire.
The height of the lamp is what will determine the temperature at the level of the chicks. You’ll need to experiment to find out what height works best for you. It’s a really, really good idea to figure this out before the chicks arrive. And, having a way to…
Even ama bulbs ni arresting?
Ati a teacher arrested for using ordinary bulbs.
If people can afford to pay for electricity, then what the big deal. Its people’s choice and not Zesco, what this dull should be talking about, are strategies ZESCO is putting in place, to meet electricity demands. This is the Problem of Hiring cadres in Important companies. Nothing will work apart from dull talks and excuses.
Zesco under pf very laughable kikiki the policy makers have failed to come up with alternatives for my friend above whoneeds heat for his chicken run. So what will he do ? Can a pf monkey answer us please
Why should Zambians be told which bulbs they can and cannot use? They are the ones that pay for the electricity useage!
This is just another type of dictatorship.
Useless PF cadres that have lamentably FAILED to manage Zambias power generation facilities should be FIRED forthwith and not be quoted in the press with such useless comments. This is just an ADMISSION OF GUILT that Zesco management under political supervision is incompetent, corrupt and incapable of doing the job.
My bulb in the living room blew up last evening at about 20 hours. the nearest shop had ordinary bulbs going at K4 and energy saving bulbs going at K18. I only had K10. Which bulb did you expect me to buy?
Can’t Zesco go into the business of selling the same at minimal cost? Surely they can if they can afford to give away so many freely
Main reason why pipo use ordinary bulbs ni ka cost ka energy saver. Not everybody can afford 25 for a single bulb compared to K2,50.00. Kapata do you get it or just coz you get yours power for free?
Everybody will be arrested in Zambia. You fail to arrest people setting markets on fire, now you want to arrest people using ordinary light bulbs. What will be the offence? Laughable!
Now using an ordinary LIGHT BULB will be an offense of TREASON!!!
Where are we going Zambians?
Please remember tampering with ZESCO is now treason. So be careful !!!
It is such a shame that everything in Zambia has to be government mandated. That’s the problem of ruling by decree! Take a leaf from other democratic countries that use behavioral psychology and economics to enact policies that deter people from using products that are harmful. For example, the government can impose a heavy sales tax on the ordinary bulb so that people begin to prefer the less power hogging bulbs. An alternative is to put a premium on residences that utilize power over a certain wattage level. Come on Zesco, be creative!
Cost of 10w CFL bulb is K24 with 8000 hours which is 10*8000 watt hours or 80 units times K0.15 which is K 12.
Now cost of 100w ordinary bulb is k5 with 1000 hours. Therefore you need 8 bulbs in 8000 hours which is K40. Units is 100w times 8000 hours which is 800. Which is cheaper?
So Zesco can rip off everyone?? yaba