Zoleka Qodashe4 February 2025 | 16:25

SA's energy regulator announces review of load reduction

NERSA’s regulatory specialist, Vuyiswa Magubane, made the revelation while presenting oral submissions on behalf of the regulator before the Human Rights Commission.

SA's energy regulator announces review of load reduction

FILE: The National Energy Regulator of South Africa is hosting public hearings on Eskom. Picture: EWN/Ntuthuzelo Nene

JOHANNESBURG - The National Energy Regulator (NERSA) has announced a review of load reduction.

NERSA’s regulatory specialist, Vuyiswa Magubane, made the revelation while presenting oral submissions on behalf of the regulator before the Human Rights Commission.

The Chapter 9 institution is investigating the effects of load reduction on human rights in an inquiry in Sandton, Johannesburg.

On Monday the commission heard how Eskom allegedly deliberately targeted poor communities in its implementation of the blackouts.

Magubane said the review was to ensure that licenses are guided on how to properly implement load reduction without adversely affecting paying customers.

"It wasn’t necessarily envisioned that load reduction would be implemented to the extent that we are seeing today. It was envisioned that it would be used under rare emergencies and so in response to the increasing levels of load reduction - which we are seeing, the NRS committee is currently formulating a working group to address issues that have been identified."