ASIMILE
SIYAQHUBA – FIVE YEARS OF ENSURING A RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
OVER
the past five years, the Energy Management Directorate has delivered critical
electricity services to residents and businesses across the metropolitan area,
balancing infrastructure renewal, network expansion, revenue reform and social
support. Serving approximately 800 000 customers,
the directorate remains responsible for one of the largest municipal
electricity distribution networks in the country.
NETWORK
SCALE AND CORE SERVICE DELIVERY
The
City’s electricity system comprises more than 110 high-voltage substations and
over 14 000
medium-voltage substations. This extensive infrastructure network forms the
backbone of electricity distribution, ensuring that power is transmitted safely
and efficiently to homes, industries and commercial centres. Maintaining the
stability of this system is central to service delivery, as reliable
electricity underpins economic growth, public safety, and household wellbeing.
INFRASTRUCTURE
RENEWAL AND NETWORK RESILIENCE
A
key focus over the five-year period has been addressing aging infrastructure.
Significant investment has been directed toward substation refurbishment,
equipment replacement and cable renewal programmes. The replacement of aging
underground and overhead cables has reduced faults associated with
deteriorating infrastructure, improving supply reliability and minimising
unplanned outages in affected communities. One of the most notable milestones
was the commissioning of the KE Masinga Substation, a 132kV/11kV Gas Insulated
Switchgear (GIS) facility. This is the first new GIS substation commissioned by
the City in nearly a decade and marks a major step forward in adopting
advanced, space-efficient and resilient technology. Constructed at an
approximate cost of R120 million, the substation forms part of the City’s
25-year Transmission Network Master Plan, designed to guide infrastructure
upgrades, expansion, and renewal to meet future demand. Additional upgrades are
ongoing, including critical equipment replacement at the Mariannridge 132/11kV
Substation, further strengthening network capacity and operational stability.
ELECTRIFICATION
AND EXPANDING ACCESS
Despite
operational challenges during the term, including prolonged shortages of
electricity meters, the directorate continued to expand access to electricity.
Over the past five years, 19
756 new residential electricity supply connections were installed. Thousands
of residents in informal settlements and mixed formal informal areas have
benefitted from electrification projects, improving safety, dignity and access
to economic opportunities.
SMART
METERING AND REVENUE PROTECTION
With
meter supply constraints now resolved, the directorate has launched its Smart
Metering Deployment Strategy. This initiative is aimed at restoring revenue
integrity, improving operational efficiency and enhancing customer service. The
prepaid smart meters incorporate advanced features such as tamper detection and
remote diagnostics, enabling improved monitoring and reducing non-technical
losses. To date, over 6 500 smart meters have been installed, with plans to
roll out more than 200 000 units in the coming years.
The programme is expected to significantly strengthen billing accuracy, reduce
electricity theft and provide customers with better control over their
consumption.
FREE
BASIC ELECTRICITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT
The directorate continues to administer the Free Basic Electricity programme in line with national policy guidelines. Since 2003, qualifying indigent households consuming less than 150 kWh per month receive 65 kWh of free electricity monthly, automatically credited to their prepaid meters. Currently, close to 100 000 customers benefit from this subsidy.
