• Eskom says it is expanding the areas that will receive “load limiting” after a successful implementation in Fourways, Johannesburg.
• Next up, residents with smart meters in Buccleuch, Kelvin, Paulshof, Marlboro, Sunninghill and Waterfall will be able to enjoy some power during loadshedding hours.
• Load limiting reduces the electricity consumption down to just 10 amps to allow only essential appliances to operate.

In the middle of last year, Eskom revealed it was testing a new method to reduce the amount of loadshedding it would have to enact in certain regions in South Africa. This was called “load limiting” and it works by reducing an area’s electricity capacity instead of cutting off the power entirely, with residents warned to not use power-intensive appliances during the specific time period the load limiting is in effect.

The end result is that the power will stay on, with lights and other essential appliances allowed to continue running, including TVs, WiFi routers, fridges and security systems. The project was piloted in Sandton and Midrand, Gauteng last year, and following the pilot it was, Eskom claims, rolled out successfully in Fourways.

SA News reports that Eskom is planning to expand its load limiting to new areas across Gauteng, particularly in the Johannesburg suburbs of Buccleuch, Kelvin, Paulshof, Marlboro, Sunninghill, and Waterfall. Customers, the utility says, use smart meters in these locations which allow load limiting to take place.

“The initiative focuses on select customers with smart meters, as these have the technical functionality to be controlled remotely.”

“The power utility urges all its customers with compatible meters, where load limiting will be implemented, to support the initiative, which ensures that they continue to have electricity for the duration of load shedding,” it added.

Eskom has explained how the process will work. An hour before loadshedding is set to begin in you area, you will be prompted by a message on your phone from the utility that power consumption will be reduced to 10 amps.

Your smart meter will then provide you four warnings in that time so you know not to use any power-intensive appliances or machines, such as washing machines and similar. Thereafter load limiting is implemented, until 30 minutes before the scheduled end of loadshedding when the power will be cut.

After 30 minutes, power will be restored alongside the end of loadshedding.

Loadshedding is currently at Stage 3 as of Friday as Eskom is replenishing emergency reserves. This is said to continue until further notice, but the utility has yet to issue its end-of-week power alert.

[Image – Photo by Andrey Metelev on Unsplash]