Eskom to restrict electricity supply in Gauteng

Eskom Gauteng has announced it has identified areas with significantly high non-technical losses, mainly in residential areas. 

The power utility said it continues to record a substantially high trend of energy demand during peak periods between 5am and 9am, and again between 5pm and 8pm. 

Eskom added its immediate response is to safeguard its assets from repeated failure and explosions which result from overloading caused by increased illegal connections, meter bypasses and tampering with electricity infrastructure.

“It is prudent for us to take deliberate measures to significantly reduce the extremely high costs associated with repeated equipment failure which costs more as the power is indiscriminately used during peak periods. This unprecedented measure is necessary to contain the situation. 

“We deem the constant repairs and replacement of equipment that fails before we can realise the investment as unwarranted. This is in line with our priorities of containing operational costs and improving plant performance,” said Motlhabane Ramashi, senior manager of Maintenance and Operations in the Gauteng Operating Unit.

The implementation of this initiative will be effected on a rotational basis. 

Eskom will continuously monitor the developments to determine any improvements which need to be implemented. The power utility will keep conducting audits, remove illegal connections and act against meter tampering, as well as impose penalties for any transgression, while driving this initiative which is part of the multipronged strategy.

“We will continue to partner and collaborate with the affected communities and stakeholders to ensure electricity is delivered to all customers as we are of the view that electricity remains an essential service,” concluded Ramashi.

Twitter users did not react kindly to the news:

Is that a new word for loadshedding? pic.twitter.com/jH5wcpYFcp

— Zakithi Duma (@ZaKaLwandle) May 12, 2020

New terminology neh pic.twitter.com/uMTQEKTETg

— waBaba (@bryn49) May 12, 2020

https://twitter.com/Nini_sz31/status/1260221300875935744?s=19