eThekwini Municipality has implemented rotating load reduction in parts of the metro after a fault at the Kloof Substation left the facility operating on a single incoming supply circuit, officials said on Wednesday.
Fault and demand strain network
Municipal engineers reported that one of the two supply circuits feeding the substation failed, leaving the remaining circuit to carry the full load. That vulnerability coincided with a spike in electricity demand as KwaZulu‑Natal endures colder-than-usual conditions, placing extra pressure on the network.
To protect the in‑service transformer from overload, the municipality said it would shed roughly 2 megawatts at a time in affected communities. The reductions are being rotated to limit disruption for individual areas.
"The increased electricity demand caused by the cold weather has placed additional pressure on the remaining supply circuit," the municipality said.
Where and when the cuts will occur
The municipality listed the neighbourhoods affected as Chelmsfordville, Forest Hills, Kloof, Krantzkloof and Padfield Park. Load reduction will rotate every two hours until 22:00 on Wednesday and may continue into Thursday depending on repairs and network conditions, officials said.
- Rotation interval: every two hours
- Planned shedding per interval: about 2MW
- Affected areas: Chelmsfordville, Forest Hills, Kloof, Krantzkloof, Padfield Park
- Possible extension: may continue tomorrow while repairs and fault‑finding proceed
Repair work and contingency measures
Technicians are conducting fault‑finding and repairs on the affected supply circuit. Municipal teams are also assessing whether the load can be redistributed to nearby substations to reduce the need for further shedding.
Municipal spokespeople apologised to residents and thanked them for their patience while work continues to restore normal service. No timetable for full restoration was given beyond the rotating schedule and the contingency note that it may persist into the following day.
Local context and likely impacts
The disruption comes as parts of KwaZulu‑Natal have experienced severe winter weather, including conditions that have affected roads and transport. Cold snaps typically increase electricity use as households and businesses heat spaces, compounding the difficulty when a key piece of infrastructure goes offline.
Rotating load reduction is intended to avoid a wider, uncontrolled failure of the transformer or a broader outage that could leave larger parts of the metro without power for longer. While planned and managed, rolling cuts nonetheless create inconvenience and can affect medical equipment users, small businesses and traffic signals.
| What residents should do | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Charge essential devices in advance | Phones and medical devices may be needed during outages |
| Use alternative heating safely | To avoid increased risk of house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning |
| Secure perishable goods | Minimise food loss during repeated short interruptions |
Residents who rely on electricity for life‑supporting medical equipment should contact the municipality or their health provider to confirm contingency plans. Those operating small businesses are advised to protect electronic systems and consider backup power where possible.
What happens next
Repair teams have been dispatched to trace the fault and restore the second supply circuit. The municipality will continue to assess whether adjacent substations can take on redistributed load, which would reduce or eliminate the need for further shedding.
Until repairs are complete and demand eases, residents in the listed suburbs should expect intermittent interruptions. The municipality said it would update the public as progress is made.
As the province experiences cold conditions, authorities have urged motorists and commuters to exercise caution on affected roads. In the meantime, those in the path of rotating load reduction are advised to plan for short power interruptions and to check municipal communication channels for the latest information.
