With winter at our doorstep, residents within the Msukaligwa municipal area have already seen the implementation of local load reductions due to a strained electrical network.

Eksom has now warned of intensifying load reductions if the overloading persists.

Eskom in Mpumalanga has shared concerns with the significant rise in network overloading as a result of illegal electricity activities across high-density areas in the province.

Eskom appealed to members of the public to refrain from using electricity indiscriminately, illegal connections, bypassing meters, tampering with, and vandalising the electricity infrastructure as

this causes overloading of the network and results in damage to cables, transformers, and mini-substations.

“Energy demand increases during peak periods in the mornings between 5am and 9am, and again in the evenings between 5pm and 10pm,” Eskom stated in a media release.

“The rising number of illegal electricity activities such as purchases made from ghost vendors, illegal connections, and illegal operating causes damage to the electrical infrastructure which results in an increase in repair and replacement of the damaged assets at great cost.

“Eskom will have to intensify load reduction in order to protect these assets from repeated failure and explosions, firstly focusing on high-density areas and those with multiple and/or backyard dwellings.

“Secondly, customers identified as not purchasing or paying for their electricity services will be disconnected, as we intensify our credit management and also proactively prevent the failure of these assets as well as prolonged outages.”

Read the complete article in the Highvelder Newspaper.