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City Power Suspends Load Reduction in Johannesburg—What It Means for Residents

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Johannesburg residents have received welcome news as City Power has suspended load reduction indefinitely, bringing relief to many electricity users in the metro. The decision comes after months of targeted power cuts aimed at preventing grid overload in high-demand areas.

Why Load Reduction Was Introduced

Unlike load shedding, which occurs when Eskom cannot meet national electricity demand, load reduction is a localised measure implemented when specific areas experience excessive strain on the electrical grid.

City Power introduced load reduction in mid-2024 to protect the system from overloading and potential substation explosions due to:

  • Illegal connections
  • Vandalism and cable theft
  • High, unregulated demand in certain areas

For example, a properly connected 11kV substation serving homes, schools, malls, and petrol stations should function without issues. However, illegal connections and excessive usage can push the system to a breaking point, forcing City Power to reduce supply in affected areas.

Crackdown on Illegal Connections Leads to Suspension

City Power credits its crackdown on electricity theft and illegal connections for the improved stability of Johannesburg’s grid. The power utility has been:

  • Disconnecting illegal connections
  • Addressing meter tampering
  • Encouraging residents to legalise connections and pay for electricity

This effort has led to reduced pressure on the grid, allowing for the indefinite suspension of load reduction.

Additionally, the prepaid meter Token Identifier (TID) conversion from KRN1 to KRN2 has played a crucial role in stabilising electricity consumption, ensuring a more predictable supply across the city.

Could Load Reduction Return?

While City Power has lifted load reduction indefinitely, the utility warns that a spike in electricity consumption or a resurgence of illegal connections and vandalism could force it to reinstate the measure.

Load reduction could return at short notice if:

  • Illegal connections increase
  • Electricity theft continues
  • Consumer demand spikes beyond infrastructure capacity

South Africa’s Power Crisis Remains

Despite this positive development in Johannesburg, the country’s broader electricity crisis is far from over.

  • Eskom recently returned to Stage 3 load shedding for the first time in nearly 10 months due to supply constraints.
  • The national power grid remains unstable, with metros and municipalities across South Africa facing similar challenges of infrastructure neglect, electricity theft, and financial mismanagement.
  • Eskom’s municipal debt has ballooned to R85 billion and could reach R110 billion by March 2025, highlighting the dire financial strain on the national utility.
  • The rise of illicit prepaid electricity tokens has further complicated efforts to stabilise the power sector.

While City Power’s progress in Johannesburg is a step in the right direction, the country still faces long-term electricity challenges that require urgent investment, policy reform, and improved governance.

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