Eskom has maintained a streak of 103 days without loadshedding, thanks to sufficient generation capacity.
However, with winter’s arrival, network overloading due to electricity theft has become a pressing issue.
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This problem is especially severe in Eskom’s supply areas across Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and North West, where 94% of overloaded transformers are found.
Despite efforts to educate the public about the dangers of electricity theft, Eskom is now forced to implement load reduction to protect its assets and human lives from potential failures and explosions.
Currently, around 2 111 transformers are at risk of damage, with about 900 awaiting replacement.
Monde Bala, Eskom’s group executive for distribution, emphasised, ‘Overloaded transformers due to electricity theft present a serious risk to human life. Load reduction is a last resort, used for the shortest time possible after all other options are exhausted.’
Damaged transformers can leave areas without power for up to six months, making asset protection crucial for all South Africans, Bala added.
Load reduction, distinct from loadshedding, is applied when transformers are at risk of overloading. It aims to prevent damage and safeguard lives and property. This process occurs mainly during peak hours, around 7am and 5am in the morning and 5pm to 7pm in the evening.
Despite Eskom’s investments and community engagement to curb electricity theft, overloading remains a significant issue. The utility has removed illegal connections in some areas, but the demand continues to grow unsustainably.
Customers should not report faults during load reduction periods and should treat all installations as live and dangerous.
Eskom said they aim to minimise the impact on paying customers, though the network’s configuration often complicates service provision.
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Picture: Sharon Seretlo / Gallo Images