Eskom network overload warning Myles Illidge

[Nat Quinn]

Eskom network overload warning Myles Illidge

Eskom says it has replaced 400 transformers damaged by network overloading since the start of the year, with most issues stemming from electricity theft.

In a statement released on Wednesday, 12 June 2024, Eskom said roughly 2,500 transformers nationwide are frequently overloaded and are at risk of failing.

It added that just under 1,000 transformers are isolated and awaiting replacement.

“Overloaded transformers as a result of electricity theft present a serious risk to human life,” said Agnes Mlambo, Eskom’s acting group executive for distribution.

“The time, funds and manpower used to replace these transformers could have been utilised to improve the reliability of our network, electrify more communities, improve the experience of our paying customers, and create more jobs.”

Eskom explained that electricity theft is a wide-ranging issue, including illegal connections, network equipment theft, vandalism, meter bypassing and tampering, unauthorised network operations, and illicit electricity sales.

“A transformer damaged by overloading can leave an area without power for up to six months, protecting Eskom’s assets is in the best interest of all South Africans,” Mlambo added.

The power utility has launched its “Save Your Transformers, Save Lives” campaign to encourage users to reduce consumption and ensure that their connections are legal and paid for.

It also hopes the campaign will encourage South African residents to report illegal activities.

One region that is already showing strain from network overloading is Johannesburg.

Municipal power supplier City Power was forced to implement load reduction on Monday, 10 June 2024, to protect the integrity of the power grid.

Currently, 80 areas in the city are impacted, with load reduction taking effect between 06:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 22:00 each day.

It’s worth noting that load reduction isn’t the same as load-shedding, which sees Eskom cut power to an area entirely.

Instead, load reduction doesn’t cut off your supply entirely but rather limits the demand for electricity in an area to protect the grid from damage.

According to the South African National Energy Development Insitute’s Professor Sampson Mamphweli, power suppliers can take several approaches to reduce load.

One way is to constrain a household’s usage by remotely switching off appliances like geysers.

“In some circumstances, households can have two circuit breakers. The one breaker will allow for a higher capacity and the other a lower capacity,” said Mamphweli.

He added that during load reduction, City Power will switch off the higher-capacity breaker, leaving only the lower-capacity one.

 

SOURCE:Eskom network overload warning (mybroadband.co.za)

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