Soweto’s electricity crisis

 

Tumi Mashishi, Gauteng Eskom Media Spokesperson

For a long time, Soweto residents have been suffering due to electricity crisisand many people who do not wish to pay for electricity. Eskom has been switching the power off in many parts of Soweto for days due to none payment from the residents 

 

Soweto Times took the opportunity to interview Gauteng Eskom’s media spokesperson Tumi Mashishi and this is what she said

 

ST: What is the way forward with Soweto residents electricity issues?

TM: The power utility recently reported  shortages of mini-substations and transformers as a result of the high number  of failed and exploded electricity equipment that require  repairs or replacement, making it difficult to meet the demand. Eskom implements control measures such as audits, maintenance, load reduction, education and awareness campaigns to avert failures that lead to unplanned and extended outages. However, this equipment still fails mainly due to the illegal electricity related acts which are rife in Gauteng communities. Because of the predominant equipment failures and the subsequent shortage of mini-substations and transformers it is a challenge to keep up with the replacement thereof, leading to extended periods of time without electricity for affected communities.

 

ST: What is the process to repair or replace the mini substations?

TM: The process to replace or repair the failed equipment commences with a network audit to determine the cause of the failures, the extent of the damages followed by the removal of illegal connections, fixing faulty meters and replacing damaged mini-substations and transformers depending on the availability of the required material which is a challenge at this stage. To accommodate the customers that cannot immediately settle the R6052,60 remedial fee, Eskom introduced the Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA).  Customers are required to enter into a DPA and make an initial minimum payment of R500.00 and the balance can be paid over a maximum period of six months. Eskom will start the process of restoring the power supply when a  threshold of 60% of the payment has been made by customers supplied from  the same affected equipment. This is dependent on the availability of all necessary material. 

 

 

ST: Will prepaid meters across Soweto & possibly the country help with reduction the overload?

TM: Prepaid meters allows the customer full control of the electricity they use. Because the customer purchases electricity ahead of consumption and according to their affordability, they are then able to adjust their usage of electricity in line with the amount of units they have purchased. This will translate to reduction in network overloading and to the number of unplanned outages and in turn improve the quality of supply to buying customers.

 

 

ST: Will the residents of Soweto be able to have a break from paying R6000 if they have prepaid meters installed?

TM: The correct amount of the reconnection fee is R6 052.60 which is levied in an instance a customer has been found to have contravened the terms of their contract with Eskom. The contravention can range from bypassing the meter, illegal connection, distributing electricity to another consumer without any authorisation and purchasing electricity from an unauthorised point of sale generally referred to as ghost vendors.

 

 

ST:  Please explain how does prepaid meters help in reducing community members from spending too much money at the end of the month on electricity?

TM: Prepaid meters allows the customer full control of the electricity they use. Because the customer purchases electricity ahead of consumption and according to their affordability, they are then able to adjust their usage of electricity in line with the amount of units they have purchased.

 

ST: Please explain how the overload has been affecting residents across Soweto & SA?

TM: The high number of incidents of electricity equipment failure has put a strain on Eskom’s ability to replace and restore supply to the affected areas across Gauteng owing to network overloading due to illegal connections, meter bypasses, unauthorised operating on the network and electricity purchase from ghost vendors. Eskom is experiencing challenges with limited stock levels of mini-substations and transformers because of a recorded exponential number of failed electricity equipment due to network overloading. These challenges further compounded by low levels of payments are key factors in making it difficult to sustain reliable electricity supply to Soweto and Gauteng in its entirety.

 

ST:  Has there been a major issues with theft of Eskom cables in Soweto?

TM: Unfortunately, there has been major cases of theft in Soweto and Gauteng in general, some more brazen than other where Eskom security personnel were shot at inside and in close vicinity to Eskom facilities, with fatalities in several incidents.  Violent crimes have been directed at Eskom security guards with theft being the main motive.

 

ST: Has Eskom technicians or contractors been fearing their lives in Soweto?

TM: Unfortunately not particular to Soweto, several factors such as physical attacks, intimidations, hostage holding make it risky to operate for Eskom staff and contractors.