By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy, says township load reduction will end within 12 to18 months if communities cooperate.
Load reduction refers to the intentional interruption of electricity in specific areas where the local network becomes overloaded, especially during peak demand periods. This measure is essential to safeguard critical infrastructure, particularly in areas affected by high energy losses or illegal connections that place excessive strain on the isolated networks.
Ramokgopa made the announcement on Thursday during a media briefing in Pretoria.
The minister acknowledged that load reduction gives the appearance of income discrimination, as it mainly affects poorer communities, creating the impression that government is penalising the vulnerable.
“If communities cooperate, the plan could be completed far earlier than anticipated,” he said. “Today, we are ending load reduction. We have set a timeframe of 12 to 18 months, but it could be significantly shorter.”
According to the minister, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal account for nearly 80% of national load reduction.
Ramokgopa said the strategy to end load reduction includes three key interventions: a national rollout of smart meters, refurbishment and upgrade of local infrastructure, and the deployment of decentralised electricity generation through solar-powered microgrids.
Ramokgopa emphasised that smart meters are crucial for isolating delinquent customers without punishing entire communities.
“One of the biggest criticisms I get is from people who say, ‘Minister, I pay for my electricity, I am not illegally connected, and yet I am punished the same as everyone else.’ With smart meters, we can isolate those who choose not to pay, and not make others collateral damage,” he said.
The meters will also assist in improving access to free basic electricity (FBE). Currently, only 485,000 out of 2.1 million eligible Eskom customers are receiving FBE. With smart meters.
Meanwhile Eskom’s energy availability factor (EAF) is at a four-year high and is exceeding the 70% target set by the board for its generation fleet.
This is the first-time the utility’s fleet has sustainably passed the 70% target since it was first set by the board as part of its turnaround plan.
Eskom’s surging EAF is coupled with a slight reduction in planned maintenance year-on-year and a significant reduction in unplanned outages.
Energy expert and managing director of EE Business Intelligence, Chris Yelland, praised the utility’s performance in releasing the latest data.
“This is a very significant and dramatic operational performance improvement indeed. Well done to the Eskom Generation team lead by Bheki Nxumalo,” Yelland said in a social media post.
Eskom’s improved operational performance is likely to translate into a much healthier financial result in the current financial year due to immense savings on diesel and higher tariffs.