In a worrying trend, Eskom, South Africa's main electricity supplier, has observed an alarming increase in the construction of houses and other structures within its transmission line jurisdiction. This undesirable development not only violates Eskom regulations but also raises serious safety concerns.
Structures encroach on these critical corridors, increasing the risk of accidents and power supply interruptions. Eskom urgently appeals to the public to refrain from such activities in the interest of a safe and reliable electricity supply.
The land beneath and adjacent to power lines is called an easement. Although this easement belongs to the relevant landowners in the area, Eskom has sole rights to this land as we need to maintain and amend its boundaries from time to time.
“The common belief that power lines are harmless because of their size and distance from the ground needs to be revised. Ensuring the safety of people living within the confines of power lines is difficult and Residents are prohibited from taking safety precautions to protect the safety of their communities,” said Miranda Moalodi, Eskom’s Senior Corporate Manager for Occupational Health and Safety.
The power transmitted or distributed on power lines can be up to 765,000 volts. A fault anywhere in a power line can cause very large currents to flow to the ground. If someone is near the line, the current can flow through them and kill them. In addition, strong winds or bad weather can cause lines to break and fall onto huts, houses, or people, potentially resulting in death or serious injury to residents.
There have also been incidents where residents have been injured due to metal objects becoming energized. Metals are very conductive of electricity, so arcing can occur in sheds built within the jurisdiction of power lines. If lightning strikes a power line, which often occurs due to the height of the line, electrical flashover can occur to homes within the easement.
“If chiefs or traditional authorities want to give land to their people and these stands are close to servitude to Eskom, they must consult the local Eskom office. Together, local leaders and Eskom can ensure that all people are allocated land away from power lines and remain safe,” Moalodi continued. At the same time, developers must ensure that necessary clearances are maintained when constructing access roads across easements.
In addition to the direct safety issues this poses, buildings near or under power lines make it difficult for Eskom to carry out infrastructure inspections and may impact on electricity supply within the region. , can prevent early detection of problems that can cause significant damage. . Also, Eskom staff often need to remove or replace pieces of equipment when maintaining or strengthening these lines, and these equipment are often heavy and may require housing below the lines. and may fall on people.
Eskom uses different types of machinery to maintain power lines, including large trucks that require sufficient space to access structures. Helicopters are also used for maintenance work on live power lines, which poses a risk to people living beneath the lines.
“We hope that the public will heed this call and support us in building only in designated areas approved by local authorities and governments. We will continue to educate our community about electricity so we can all use electricity safely and responsibly,” Moalodi concluded.