Eskom shifts focus to long-term energy security
The Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho
Ramokgopa, says Eskom is shifting its focus from ending load shedding to
ensuring long-term energy security.
He says this forms part of a broader strategy also to phase out load reduction, a measure that mainly affects small, local municipalities, particularly in rural areas.
While load reduction is more common in smaller communities, the minister stressed that it is not a discriminatory practice by the utility, despite public criticism.
READ: Power outage disrupts water supply in iLembe
On Monday, Ramokgopa spoke at a media briefing on Eskom's Winter Outlook in Johannesburg.
"So, the excuse can't just be that the transformer capacity is not sufficient. So, what we are doing, working with Eskom and municipalities, is to invest in the refurbishment of those transformers.
"They must have sufficient capacity. We roll out the
smart meters and make sure that those communities that qualify for free basic
electricity get that, and those that have the means to pay and ought to be
paying must pay for the electricity."
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