On April 8, Eskom noted a significant rise in power supply interruptions in Soweto and other areas across Gauteng province mainly affecting the residential areas. The upward trend is attributed to an exponential overload of the network caused by illegal connections, bypassed meters, and vandalism of the power utility’s electricity infrastructure.
Eskom is recording a significant increase of energy demand in comparison with previous years during similar peak periods in the mornings and evenings between 05:00 and 09:00, and again between 17:00 and 21:00 respectively.
“It is unfortunate that an increase in illegal connections, meter bypasses and other theft-related activities on our infrastructure has led to sporadic and prolonged electricity interruptions in recent days in some parts of Soweto among others,” said Motlhabane Ramashi, Senior Manager for Maintenance and Operations. “We will not be in a position to meet the needs for repeated network failures due to overloading as a result of illegal connections as this is not financially viable and is putting further strain on critical resources including materials during the national lock down period,” added Ramashi.
Eskom has been on a drive to maintain its networks, and in addition implement measures to safeguard its assets by auditing, removing illegal connections and fixing bypassed meters in an effort to protect the network to operate optimally as per designed capacity. This activity is currently suspended and that will therefore affect the restoration of supply in affected areas as a result of this unprecedented demand.