Eskom has encouraged all South Africans to use electricity efficiently throughout the rest of the winter season and avoid illegal connections as well as meter bypassing.
“With load shedding suspended and electricity demand rising during the winter period, Eskom has urged all customers to act responsibly and help safeguard the power system,” Eskom said on Friday.
Illegal connections and meter bypassing not only constitute theft but also place immense strain on the network, often leading to transformer overloads, equipment damage, and in severe cases, explosions and extended outages.
“To protect critical infrastructure, Eskom is compelled to implement load reduction by switching off power during peak hours in high-risk, isolated areas to prevent potential damage.
“To help maintain a stable and uninterrupted electricity supply, customers are strongly urged to avoid bypassing meters and refrain from illegal connections,” the power utility said in a statement on Friday.
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Electricity should be purchased only through Eskom-accredited vendors, and users are encouraged to regularise their electricity usage.
“These steps are essential to ensuring safe, reliable, and fair access to electricity for all. Eligible households are encouraged to register for free basic electricity with their local municipalities,” Eskom said.
The public has been urged to report any illegal activity impacting Eskom’s infrastructure by contacting the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp on 081 333 3323.
To help manage household electricity consumption, Eskom customers are encouraged to use the Eskom Residential Calculator, a convenient tool for tracking and optimising energy usage: https://www.eskom.co.za/distribution/residential-calculator/
-SAnews.gov.za
