SEDIBENG.- Now that temperatures are dropping, Eskom in Gauteng has said that it has noted with concern a significant rise in network overloading as a result of illegal electricity activities across high-density areas in the province.

The power utility appeals 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 in these areas.

“Substantially high trends of energy demand are being recorded during peak periods in the mornings between 05:00 and 09:00, and again in the evenings between 17:00 and 22:00. Due to the rising number of illegal electricity activities such as purchases made from ghost vendors, illegal connections, and illegal operating, the electricity infrastructure is starting to fail. This puts a strain on the repair and replacement of the failed assets.”

Eskom said that it will have  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. Eskom further said that customers identified as not purchasing or paying for their electricity services will be disconnected.

To avoid unnecessary disconnections and load reduction, customers are urged to manage their consumption carefully, ensure that the electricity that they consume is paid for and bought from legal vendors, and to report illegal activities. In addition, customers are urged to switch off non-essential appliances such as heaters and geysers, and use alternative heating methods.

“We urge our customers to co-operate with us by buying legal tokens, paying for their consumption, stop tampering with the electricity meters, and switch off non-essential appliances so that they can have a good electricity supply this winter. Those who continue tampering, or buying from illegal vendors will unfortunately be disconnected and will have to pay the full reconnection fees before they can be reconnected,” says Daphne Mokwena, the Gauteng Operating Unit Senior Manager for Customer Services.

Eskom said that it continues to partner with affected communities and stakeholders to ensure that the electricity supplied to all customers is paid for as this is an essential service for many households, and requests that all illegal activities  be reported to the Eskom’s crime line at 0800 112 722 or sms 32211.