Eskom has decided to implement load reduction measures to safeguard its assets amidst dropping temperatures and cold winter weather. Despite having successfully avoided load shedding for 104 days.
According to a statement shared on Eskom’s Facebook page, these measures are being implemented due to network loading issues that have resurfaced during winter.
“This issue is prevalent in the Eskom supply areas in Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, and North-West.
“About 94% of the total overloaded transformers are in these areas as a result of electricity theft and indiscriminate use of electricity,” the statement explained.
“Despite continued public information campaigns to customers about the implications of electricity theft activities, Eskom has no other option but to implement load reduction to protect its assets from repeated failures and explosions, which pose a risk to human lives,” the statement said.
Eskom’s Distribution Group Executive, Monde Bala, said: “Overloaded transformers as a result of electricity theft present a serious risk to human life, we only implement load reduction as a very last resort for the shortest periods possible after all other options have been exhausted.”
“A transformer damaged by overloading can leave an area without power for up to six months, protecting Eskom’s assets is in the best interest of all South Africans,” concluded Bala.
The statement said, electricity theft activities are wide ranging and include illegal connections, network equipment theft, vandalism, meter bypasses and tampering, unauthorised network operations and purchasing electricity from illegal vendors.
“Load reduction is a long-established process Eskom uses in specific areas where there is sufficient electricity available, but a transformer’s integrity is at risk due to overloading, whereas loadshedding is used when the national grid is constrained and there is not sufficient capacity to generate electricity to meet demand.
“It is a proactive measure that Eskom uses to protect human life, equipment worth millions of rands and people’s livelihoods,” the statement noted.
“Overloading of the transformers is recorded mainly during peak hours around 07:00 and 05:00 in the morning and 17:00 to 19:00 in the evening.
“In the areas where load reduction has been implemented in the past, Eskom has seen a significant reduction in equipment failure and prolonged outages.”
Protecting assets
“Eskom’s electricity infrastructure is designed to handle loads based on known demand, which is legally connected customers and actual sales for specific areas.
“Exceeding these loads through electricity theft can overload the equipment, potentially causing explosions that may lead to electrical fires in the surrounding areas. Thus, overloading presents a serious risk to lives and equipment, particularly mini-substations and transformers,” the statement concluded.
