City of Joburg electricity entity, City Power, has announced the suspension of load reduction with immediate effect.
The decision follows a series of campaigns aimed at combating illegal connections and non-compliance in the past months.
According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, the suspension of load reduction highlights their commitment towards reliable electricity supply.
“Several key factors contributed to this decision. In recent months, City Power has intensified its efforts in cutting illegal connections and addressing meter tampering.
The results of these operations have been encouraging, as well as witnessed a notable reduction in pressure on the electricity grid.
Moreover, these actions prompted many customers to approach us for legal connections, leading to a more responsible use of electricity as they now pay for the services they consume,” Mangena explained.
This announcement comes amid the ongoing National Investigative Inquiry into the impact of load reduction on human rights, conducted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
The commission seeks to assess the extent of load reduction in the country, its legal and policy justifications, as well as make recommendations where necessary.
The probe was sparked by numerous complaints by some residents who argued that load reduction is mostly implemented in black communities where it targets marginalised groups.
Various stakeholders including the Electricity and Energy Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, energy regulator NERSA and other civic organisations, are expected to make representations at the inquiry.
The outcomes are expected to be shared with the public in a space of three months with SAHRC’s recommendations attached to the report.
