South Africa’s state-owned power company, Eskom, has imposed targeted load reduction in several major cities to ease pressure on transformers and substations affected by illegal electricity connections and power theft.
The utility stated on Monday the measure is necessary to prevent permanent equipment damage, even as nationwide load shedding remains suspended.
According to Eskom, the intiative follows the continued pressure on transformers/mini-substations due to illegal connections and electricity theft in some areas necessitates load reduction to avoid equipment damage.
“Illegal connections and electricity theft burdens transformer load. While loadshedding remains suspended, Eskom implements load reduction from 05:00 – 09:00 and 17:00 – 22:00.
“The continued pressure on our transformers/mini-substations due to illegal connections and electricity theft in some areas necessitates load reduction to avoid equipment damage,” Eskom said in statement.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena explained that Eskom does not want to implement load reduction. However, it is forced to do so for several reasons, including safety.
She explained that illegal connections and meter bypasses place higher-than-anticipated demand on local distribution networks, leading to network overloads and transformers exploding.
Mokenwa noted that when a transformer explodes, Eskom must replace the infrastructure, which she acknowledged it has done for many years without dealing with the underlying problem
While long-term rolling power cuts know as load shedding has eased significantly, Eskom has increasingly relied on load reduction to manage localized grid pressures.
Eskom shifts from load shedding to load reduction
Moreover, Eskom has also advanced several initiatives to strengthen grid reliability and increase renewable energy capacity.
For instance, the utility launched a Renewable Energy Offtake Programme, enabling commercial and industrial users to secure 291MW of solar photovoltaic power under long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
The programme expands access to solar power for commercial and industrial users, supporting a cleaner, more sustainable electricity mix and strengthening grid stability.
Industry watchers warn that although unplanned breakdowns dropped to around 10,000MW in August below recent years. Eskom’s reliance on load reduction reflects lingering pressure on the grid.
Critics argue the measure amounts to a rebranded form of load shedding, with many households in affected areas still facing disruptions despite the overall improvement.
Additionally, Eskom is targeting a major boost in power supply through a $6 billion expansion of Mozambique’s Cahora Bassa Dam, operated by Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB).
The project involves installing three new 415 MW turbines on the dam’s northern bank, which will increase generation capacity by 1,245 MW from the current 2,075 MW.
The utility said these measures are critical to ending both load shedding and load reduction in the long term, ensuring households and businesses benefit from a more stable and secure power supply.
