Eskom has resumed load reduction in seven provinces and insists it is not implementing load shedding. It has not effected load shedding for 104 consecutive days due to what it says is ‘sufficient generation capacity’.

Eskom says network overloading has once again resurfaced with the onset of winter. It says it has no other option but to implement load reduction to protect its assets from repeated failures and explosions, which pose a risk to human lives.

In a statement, the utility says this issue is prevalent in the Eskom supply areas in Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, and North West.

About 94% of the total overloaded transformers are in these areas as a result of electricity theft and indiscriminate use of electricity. It says a transformer damaged by overloading can leave an area without power for up to six months.

In the areas where load reduction has been implemented in the past, Eskom says it has seen a significant reduction in equipment failure and prolonged outages.