WHILE there has been load shedding in the past week, Eskom continues to conduct load reduction in various communities in the Zululand region.

The power utility says as a result of a high number of illegal connections, it has been conducting load reduction in Mtubatuba, Ntambanana, uMhlabuyalingana, uMlalazi, eSikhaleni and Mandeni among other areas to minimise energy losses.

The load reduction where power is cut off in certain areas during peak hours, aims to prevent overloading of networks which could damage electricity infrastructure through explosions in overhead transformers and mini-substations.

‘Eskom is engaging municipalities and community leaders for joint educational campaigns and for the removal of illegal connections and building of legal networks,’ KZN Eskom spokesperson, Joyce Zingoni told the ZO.

The campaign was launched in Mzingazi in Richards Bay last year, uncovering a number of households that had connected illegally.

An analysis of the energy losses had revealed that Eskom was receiving only 2% of the potential revenue from this area.

‘Since the project started in October last year, 2065 new meters were installed, 782 meters were changed and we have normalised 2847 customers,’ Zingoni said.

During the campaign, if a household is found to be connected illegally, Eskom issues a tamper notice, removes the cables and meters and connects the household legally.

At households where tampering or bypassing of meters are detected, notices are issued and the tampered meters are removed and replaced with new sealed meters.