Local Communities To Be Affected By Eskom’s Load Reduction Plan

Eskom has announced load shedding measures during peak hours in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in order to curb damage to its infrastructure caused by illegal connections.

Certain areas in and around Newcastle (Dannhauser, Madadeni, Osizweni, Drycut, Massondale and Palermo), will be affected by this.

Eskom says there has been a significant rise in network overloading around the province as a result of illegal connections and bypassed meters. These illegal activities on Eskom’s network has caused certain overloaded transformers and mini-substations to explode, damaging Eskom’s network which now poses a danger to property and people in the affected areas.

The power utility further stated should its infrastructure be damaged due to illegal connections; for the safety of the network, its infrastructure and the public, it will only replace the damaged transformers once the illegal connections have been removed and it is once again safe to energise the area.

“This is in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This will result in communities staying for days without electricity as parts and resources are not always available,” said Eskom.

Eskom has announced load shedding measures during peak hours in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in order to curb damage to its infrastructure caused by illegal connections.

Certain areas in and around Newcastle (Dannhauser, Madadeni, Osizweni, Drycut, Massondale and Palermo), will be affected by this.

Eskom says there has been a significant rise in network overloading around the province as a result of illegal connections and bypassed meters. These illegal activities on Eskom’s network has caused certain overloaded transformers and mini-substations to explode, damaging Eskom’s network which now poses a danger to property and people in the affected areas.

The power utility further stated should its infrastructure be damaged due to illegal connections; for the safety of the network, its infrastructure and the public, it will only replace the damaged transformers once the illegal connections have been removed and it is once again safe to energise the area.

“This is in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This will result in communities staying for days without electricity as parts and resources are not always available,” said Eskom.

Eskom has requested residents to assist them in managing the load by switching off appliances such as heaters, stoves and geysers when not in use; and to only use these when absolutely necessary. This will help stabilise the network at a local level.

Areas affected in the Ladysmith area are Emnambithi, Ezakheni, Graythorne and Msinga.

The power utility has asked residents not to log a fault during this period and warns its consumers to treat all Eskom installations as live.

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