By Thabiso Nkuna

Eskom has announced that it will resume load reduction in some areas due to network overloading during winter. Load reduction is implemented when the demand exceeds the infrastructure, such as transformers, which can leave customers without electricity supply for extended periods. Overloaded transformers, caused by electricity theft and indiscriminate use of electricity, pose a serious risk to human life. Eskom Group Executive for Distribution, Monde Bala, explained that overloaded transformers can leave an area without power for up to six months.

The challenge is particularly prevalent in supply areas in Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West. Overloading mainly occurs during peak morning and evening times, with 94% of the total overloaded transformers in these areas. Eskom has launched the ‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign to prevent load reduction and abrupt loss of supply.

To mitigate risk, Eskom has launched the ‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign, urging customers to reduce their consumption, ensure that electricity is legally connected, paid for, purchased from legal vendors, and to report illegal activities. The winter season presents a particular challenge due to the exponential increase in energy demand in areas prone to electricity theft, as electricity is often used indiscriminately, leading to network failure due to extreme overloading.

Eskom has invested resources and increased capacity to meet the exponential demand in these areas prone to overloading, but the demand has continued to grow, rendering the situation unsustainable. To prevent load reduction and abrupt loss of supply, customers are urged to reduce their consumption, ensure that electricity is legally connected, paid for, purchased from legal vendors, and to report illegal activities.