Eskom will start implementing load reduction in high-risk areas around the country due to increased energy consumption, the power utility announced in a statement on Tuesday.
It emphasised that load reduction is not the same as load shedding, which remains suspended thanks to sufficient generation capacity.
“Load reduction is a long-established process that Eskom uses in specific areas when there is sufficient electricity available, but where a transformer’s integrity is at risk due to overloading,” Eskom says.
Load shedding is used when the national grid is constrained and there is insufficient capacity to generate electricity to meet demand. South Africa has had 104 consecutive days without load shedding.
Eskom’s warning about load reduction comes a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa cautioned in his Monday newsletter that South Africa’s electricity system remains vulnerable. “[We] cannot yet rule out a possibility of further load shedding … Even though South Africa recently reached the longest period without load shedding since 2020, there is no reason to relax,” he wrote.
Eskom notes in its statement that there are currently 2 111 transformers around the country that are frequently overloaded and at risk of damage. Around 900 transformers are awaiting replacement. The overloaded transformers are, by and large, the result of electricity theft and indiscriminate electricity use.
“Despite continued public information campaigns to customers about the implication of electricity theft activities, Eskom has no other option but to implement load reduction to protect its assets from repeated failures and explosions which pose a risk to human lives,” it added.
Electricity theft includes illegal connections, network equipment theft, vandalism, meter bypasses and tampering, unauthorised network operations, and purchasing electricity from illegal vendors.
Eskom estimates that electricity theft, including illegal connections, amounts to as much as 70% of its total energy losses.
The overloading of transformers occurs during peak hours – from around 5am to 7am, and then again from 5pm to 7pm.
Eskom says the relevant local authority or province will communicate with affected customers about where load reduction will be implemented. This will be through SMS and customer connect newsletters.
“To prevent load reduction and abrupt loss of supply, customers are urged to reduce their consumption, ensure that the electricity they consume is legally connected, paid for, and purchased from legal vendors, and to report illegal activities.
“Additionally, customers are encouraged to switch off non-essential appliances, such as heaters and geysers, and use alternative heating methods.”
The power utility also urged customers to come forward when they detect criminal activity, such as legal connections, theft, and vandalism, by reporting it to the Eskom Crime Line on 0800 112 722. – bbbc.com
