As icy temperatures grip Johannesburg this week, City Power is urging residents to use electricity sparingly to avoid overloading the grid and triggering widespread outages.

The South African Weather Service has forecast very cold conditions until early next week, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 5°C in some areas. With heaters, electric blankets, and other appliances in high demand, the power network is set to experience a surge in usage.

City Power has warned that this could lead to overloaded cables and transformers, increasing the risk of faults or explosions and resulting in longer, unplanned blackouts.

“During these periods, we experience high call volumes and multiple outage reports, which may affect response times,” the utility said. “We ask customers to be patient as our teams work around the clock.”

To reduce strain, residents are encouraged to switch off non-essential appliances and lights, especially during peak hours (6:00-9:00 and 17:00-21:00), and to refrain from using multiple high-consumption devices simultaneously. Alternatives such as warm clothing, blankets, and gas heaters are recommended where possible.

City Power says it will continue monitoring the network closely and respond to faults as quickly as possible. Customers can report outages via citypower.mobi or by calling 011 490 7484 / 0860 562 874.

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