Electricity minister says load reduction impacting the poor

JOHANNESBURG - Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has warned that load reduction runs the risk of prompting energy inequality.

Speaking at his weekly update on Monday Ramokgopa highlighted emerging challenges on the distribution front.

Unlike load shedding, reduction is implemented at a localised level, when maximum demand is exceeded in a certain area.

Ramokgopa however added that the end result is the same for consumers.

"They’ve got periods in the day where they don't have electricity. And what is the tragedy of that situation is that it is affecting poor areas. So it's the poor that are carrying the brunt of this and it is going to introduce conditions of energy inequality in our country."

He also touched on the rising cost of electricity and the introduction of the controversial R200 prepaid surcharge in Johannesburg.

He said that his office met with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) recently to discuss the broader issue.

"This situation is untenable, communities are getting more and more enraged. People just can’t afford the cost of electricity, it's really eroding their disposable income, it's degrading their quality of life. So I think as the ministry, we've taken a view that we'll not fold our arms," said Ramokgopa.