City of Joburg to exempt key customers from loadshedding

The City of Joburg says it will be excluding key customers, essential services and some businesses from loadshedding, DETAILS:

​The City of Joburg says it will be excluding key customers, essential services and some businesses from loadshedding in an effort to protect livelihoods, attract investments and increase the economy within the City, where network configurations allow.

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MMC SEKWAILA EXPLAINS THE NEW MOVE

Elaborating on this move, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) Councillor Jack Sekwaila said that this will start gradually from early June 2023, and will go a long way in saving the much-needed jobs and ensuring businesses remain invested within the City.

“The City has the responsibility to attract investments, retain those already operating within Joburg, and secure the jobs for our residents. This hasn’t been possible with the relentless loadshedding that has heavily impacted the economic activity within the City, leading to some businesses closing down while others emigrated to other provinces where reliable electricity supply is guaranteed.”

Sekwaila

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“Most small businesses were forced to close due to the impact of loadshedding while still recovering from Covid-19. These plans will go a long way in ensuring we keep the economic activity going on in the midst of this gruelling loadshedding,” MMC Sekwaila added.

LOADSHEDDING EXPEMPTION NOT ENTIRELY NEW IN THE CITY

According to the MMC, already most large power users and key business customers are excluded from loadshedding through the load curtailment agreements with the companies. Other businesses, especially those in industrial areas that employ many people, will be gradually excluded – owing to the reconfiguration of the network and other processes including the rolling out of energy techniques.

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SOME INSTITUTIONS TO REMAIN AFFECTED

The new arrangement will see many other essential services added to the loadshedding exclusion.

“The City is already exempting most health and water services following the request by the government last year. We may not right away be able to exclude all at once because of the embedded nature of the network,” said Sekwaila.

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