Eskom to safeguard its assets from overloading
Eskom will implement measures to restrict electricity supply in Gauteng in order to reduce the costs associated with equipment failure.
Image for illustration purposes
South Africa, Gauteng: The South African power utility, Eskom, announced that it will implement measures to restrict electricity supply in Gauteng in order to reduce the extremely high costs associated with repeated equipment failure resulting from overloading.
The implementation of this initiative, will be effected on a rotational basis in order to curb rising costs.
The power utility continues to record a substantially high trend of energy demand during peak periods in the mornings and evenings.
Eskom said its immediate response is to safeguard its assets from repeated failure and explosions as a result of overloading caused by illegal connections, meter bypasses and tampering with electricity infrastructure that are on an increase.
“This unprecedented measure is necessary to contain the situation. We deem the constant repairs and replacement of equipment that fails before we can realise their investment as unwarranted, and this will not sustain our operations should we continue in this trajectory,” said Motlhabane Ramashi, Eskom’s maintenance and operations manager in the Gauteng operating unit.
This is in line with Eskom’s priorities of containing operational costs and improving plant performance,” Ramashi said.
Eskom will continuously monitor the developments to determine any improvements.
The power utility will keep conducting audits, removing illegal connections and acting against meter tampering, as well as imposing penalties for any transgression, among others.
Source: ESI Africa