South Africa’s first smart town

By Jessie Taylor

Nestled among the sandstone mountains of the Eastern Free State, Clarens has long attracted visitors with its galleries, restaurants, outdoor adventures and peaceful village atmosphere. Now, the small town has another distinction: it has become a local example of how technology and community cooperation can tackle everyday challenges.

In January 2024, Eskom announced that Clarens had become South Africa’s first town to pilot “group curtailment”, allowing residents and businesses to collectively manage their electricity demand when the national grid was under pressure. The initiative earned Clarens the description of South Africa’s first “smart town” and demonstrated how a small community could use technology to support both its residents and its tourism-driven economy.

Two years on, Clarens’ smart-town experiment has shown that small communities can play an active role in managing critical infrastructure. The group-curtailment pilot demonstrated that residents and businesses could collectively reduce electricity demand when the grid was under pressure, while smart metering and real-time monitoring provided a more responsive alternative to traditional load-shedding.

Turning an electricity challenge into a community solution

At the height of South Africa’s electricity crisis, load shedding was particularly disruptive for a destination whose businesses depend heavily on visitors, restaurants, accommodation establishments and other tourism-related activities.

Unlike conventional load shedding, where electricity supply is switched off according to a predetermined schedule, load curtailment relies on customers reducing their electricity consumption when requested.

Clarens took this idea a step further by making it a community effort. Eskom’s pilot required participating residents and businesses to work together to reduce demand when the electricity system was under strain.

A nominated group coordinator is notified when curtailment is required and communicates with participating customers, who then implement their own plans to reduce consumption. During curtailment, customers are expected to sustain the required reduction rather than simply being disconnected from the grid.

Technology is central to the system. A meter at the town’s main point of supply monitors electricity demand and sends updated information every 60 seconds. An application developed for the project signals when curtailment has been called, allowing participants to respond.

This means the town can respond to changing demand rather than relying solely on a fixed schedule.

Eskom described the project as a successful demonstration of how residents could collectively manage their electricity demand and said it could provide a benchmark for similar initiatives elsewhere.

A small town with a big tourism economy

Clarens was ranked fifth in Daily Maverick’s Small Towns of the Year this year. The assessment considered factors including cleanliness, municipal performance, community spirit, safety, natural environment, family friendliness and connectivity. Clarens achieved particularly strong scores for family friendliness, safety, nature and connectivity.

The recognition illustrates an important point about the town’s development: its appeal is not based on technology alone. The smart-town initiative adds another layer to an already established community and tourism economy.

The town was established in 1912 and is known as the “Jewel of the Eastern Free State”. It sits close to Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the Maluti Mountains, making it a popular destination for people looking for scenery, outdoor activities and a quieter alternative to city life.

Clarens has developed a strong arts and crafts identity, with about 20 permanent art galleries, while restaurants, accommodation establishments, adventure operators and festivals contribute to the local economy.

Reliable infrastructure matters to a tourism destination. A restaurant needs electricity to operate its kitchen and refrigeration. Accommodation providers need to keep essential services running. Galleries and shops need functioning payment systems and communications. Visitors increasingly expect connectivity as part of the travel experience.

Clarens’ approach shows how smart infrastructure can be linked directly to these practical needs.

The town’s electricity-management system does not attempt to replace the character that attracts visitors. Instead, it supports it. By encouraging residents and businesses to work together to reduce demand when necessary, the project aims to reduce the disruption associated with electricity constraints while still contributing to the stability of the wider electricity system.

Clarens has shown that embracing technology does not have to mean losing the character that makes a place special. Instead, smart infrastructure can help protect the local economy, support businesses, improve resilience and allow a community to make better use of its existing resources.

Claren’s economic impact in numbers