By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
7 August 2025- The City Power is urging customers across Johannesburg to use electricity sparingly as a cold front grips the province this week, bringing with it plummeting temperatures and increased strain on the power grid. City Power said according to the South African Weather Service, very cold conditions are expected from today through to early next week, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 5°C in some parts of the city.
The City Power General Manager in the Department of Public Relations and Communication, Isaac Mangena said these extreme weather conditions often lead to a significant spike in electricity demand, as residents turn to heaters, electric blankets, and other high-usage appliances to keep warm. Mangena said as a result, their network is likely to come under severe pressure, which unfortunately increases the risk of unplanned outages, primarily caused by overloading.
“Overloaded cables and transformers can fail or explode, leading to even more prolonged power outages in affected areas. During these periods, we often experience high call volumes and multiple outage reports, which may impact response times.
“We therefore ask customers to remain patient as our teams work around the clock to respond to faults and restore supply. We urge customers to reduce electricity usage by switching off non-essential appliances and lights, especially during peak hours (6am–9am and 5pm–9pm),” he said.
Mangena further said customers are also urged to avoid using multiple high-consumption appliances (heaters, stoves, geysers) at the same time and to instead use alternative heating methods such as warm clothing, blankets and gas heaters where possible. He added that City Power will continue to monitor the network closely and respond to faults as quickly as possible.
“We encourage customers to play their part by lowering consumption on their end to help us keep the lights on. Customers can report outages or faults by calling us on 011 490 7484 / 0860 562 874 or via citypower.mobi,” said Mangena.
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