City Power urges customers to reduce electricity usage amid load shedding and infrastructure damage

Dennis TMarch 9, 2025

1 2 minutes read

City Power is calling on its customers to reduce electricity consumption as the utility struggles to cope with load shedding, infrastructure damage, and backlogs caused by recent heavy rainfall.

This comes after Eskom announced the implementation of stage 3 load shedding, which will remain in effect until Monday morning.

Load Shedding Exacerbates Existing Challenges

City Power is already dealing with a high volume of outage backlogs due to severe weather conditions that have damaged its infrastructure.

According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, the combination of load shedding and storm-related outages is straining repair efforts and could lead to further delays in restoring power to affected areas.

“The added load shedding may cause further delays in responding to outstanding outage calls,” said Mangena.

This means that even after scheduled blackouts end, some households and businesses could remain without electricity for extended periods due to the backlog of repairs.

Increase in Cable Theft and Vandalism

Another growing concern is the rise in cable theft and vandalism, which often spikes during load shedding.

Mangena explained that criminals take advantage of blackouts to steal copper cables and vandalize essential electrical infrastructure, worsening power disruptions.

“During this period, we often encounter an increase in the number of cases of cable theft and vandalism during load shedding,” he said.

This kind of criminal activity not only delays power restoration but also adds financial strain on the city’s electricity provider, which must replace stolen or damaged infrastructure.

City Power Appeals for Public Assistance

Given these ongoing challenges, City Power is urging residents to take precautions and report any suspicious activity near electricity infrastructure.

“We appeal to customers to be vigilant and to report any movement around essential electricity infrastructure so that we do not find ourselves dealing with outages caused by cable theft,” Mangena stressed.

City Power has also asked customers to use electricity sparingly to reduce pressure on the grid. This includes:

✅ Switching off non-essential appliances
✅ Reducing geyser usage
✅ Using energy-efficient lighting
✅ Unplugging devices when not in use

Impact of Load Shedding on Johannesburg Residents

Load shedding, coupled with infrastructure challenges, has significantly impacted households, businesses, and essential services in Johannesburg.

Businesses are facing disruptions, particularly small businesses that lack backup power sources.
Hospitals and clinics are relying on generators, but prolonged outages put patients at risk.
Schools and universities are struggling to conduct online learning and exams due to power cuts and internet disruptions.

Many residents are also frustrated with the long wait times for power restorations, as teams struggle to keep up with both scheduled blackouts and unexpected outages.

City Power’s Response Plan

City Power has assured residents that it is working around the clock to address outages and infrastructure repairs.

To speed up response times, the utility has:

Dispatched additional repair teams to tackle the backlog.
Increased security patrols at vulnerable substations and cable routes.
Collaborated with law enforcement to crack down on cable theft and vandalism.

Despite these efforts, City Power cannot guarantee quick fixes, especially as Eskom’s load shedding schedule continues to shift.

Looking Ahead

With uncertain weather conditions, ongoing load shedding, and infrastructure vulnerabilities, City Power is urging customers to stay patient, conserve energy, and report suspicious activities near electricity sites.

Mangena reassured residents that the utility is doing its best to restore power efficiently but warned that load shedding will continue to pose major challenges in the coming weeks.