Gauteng to have blackouts on Wednesday morning

Eskom has announced it will be implementing load reduction from 5am — 9am (tomorrow morning, Wednesday) “to avoid network overloading in high-density areas that are prone to illegal connections, meter bypasses and vandalism of electricity infrastructure”.

The affected areas are:

Soweto – Dobsonville, Dube, Central Western Jabavu, Klipspruit, Meadowlands East Zones 1-5, Meadowlands West Zones 6 – 10, Mofolo Central, Mofolo North, Mofolo South, Orlando East & Orlando West.

Vaal – Boitumelo, Drieziek, Evaton Central, Evaton, Evaton West, Orange Farm, Poortje, Sebokeng Zones 8,12 – 14,16 &19 and Small Farms.

West Rand – Cosmo City & Zandspruit.

“During the load reduction implementation, customers are urged to switch off all their electrical appliances to avoid power surges when power returns. Failure to do so may lead to transformer trips or failures, and damages to household appliances when supply is restored,” the power utility said in a statement.

ALSO READ: Four ways to lower your electricity bill this winter

Please do not log a fault during this period.

Eskom also urged the public to report illegal connections on the Eskom Crime-Line number: 0800 11 27 22.

Tips on how to save more money on your electricity bill this winter:

• Lights — The first and easiest way to reduce your usage is to switch off unnecessary lights. When you need to replace a light bulb choose wisely. Consider the replacement costs, electricity usage and the hassle of changing bulbs, which makes compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) good options. These lamps use approximately 80% less energy and last eight to fifteen times longer than the incandescent bulbs.
• Hot Water — Boil enough water only for the number of cups of tea you are making. Use a hot water bottle rather than an electric blanket.
• Natural Heat — Take advantage of sunlight to warm rooms during the day, but then close the curtains to reduce heat loss during the evenings. Double curtains create a tighter air space, improving room comfort levels. If possible, let them hang long enough to reach the windowsill or floor.
• Staying Warm — Think before switching on the heater, rather dress warmly: use a blanket and a hot water bottle to keep cosy. Electric space heaters can account for up to 17% of your evening peak power consumption. When using heaters, only heat the rooms that you’re spending time in.
• Laundry — Do not wash your clothes at a high temperature unless you have a specific reason for doing so. Most laundry detergents are designed to work effectively at 30°C or lower. Make sure your washing machine is fully loaded each time you use it. You can also apply the same to your tumble dryer to help save both electricity and water.

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