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Eskom says it has made the unprecedented decision to restrict electricity supply to parts of residential areas around Johannesburg, where there have been unusual increases in consumption.
There has been a trend of sudden increases during peak use periods, between 05:00 and 09:00 and between 17:00 and 20:00, which has led the energy services company to suspect a link to illegal connections.
Eskom says the decision to restrict supply was made to protect equipment and the costs associated with repairs, since power is used indiscriminately during these peak periods. It will be implemented on a rotating basis.
“This unprecedented move is necessary to contain the situation. This is in line with our priorities of containing operating costs and [improving] plant performance, “said Motlhabane Ramashi, Senior Manager of Maintenance and Operations at Gauteng.
Illegal connections and tampering with the meter have been identified as potential causes of the unusual increase in use in parts of Diepsloot, Braamfischerville, Ivory Park, parts of Soweto, Vaal and Orange Farm.
Eskom previously stated that it saw a sharp drop in demand for electricity from the start of the blockade, helping it to avoid load shedding. The company said the high use of electricity cannot be attributed to the current blockade.
Illegal connections and non-payment for electricity are some of the challenges affecting Eskom’s revenue, and the company has projected an annual loss of R20 billion for financial year 2020.
– Compiled by Sibongile Khumalo
