Thembisa Shologu
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) continues to spearhead its Energy Crisis Response Programme to alleviate the enduring electricity crisis gripping the nation.
Speaking at the opening of the Gauteng Legislature at Nasrec on Monday, Premier Panyaza Lesufi reiterated the province's commitment to addressing the energy challenges despite its lack of jurisdiction in this domain.
"While energy falls beyond our provincial mandate, the severe repercussions of load shedding on state functionality and society at large necessitate our intervention," Premier Lesufi said, urging swift action from the National Government to eliminate loadshedding.
"We must urge the national government to move with speed to ensure that loadshedding is eliminated, but unfortunately, as a provincial government, we have no role in the energy aspect. 
"After extensive consultation with the energy sector, we developed our energy response crisis plan to ensure that those without electricity in our province can access electricity," said Lesufi. 
In the 2023 State of the Province Address (SOPA), an allocation of R1.2 billion was pledged to fund energy solutions in Gauteng. The comprehensive plan encompasses eradicating illegal power connections, widespread installation of smart meters in households and businesses, debt management, overhaul of the billing system, and replacement of damaged transformers.
The plan included eliminating all illegal power connections, installing smart meters in every home and business, managing debt, overhauling the billing system, and replacing all damaged transformers. 
"We further appointed Eskom to intervene on our behalf, and we are proud to declare that in the last five months, close to 37,000 households that did not have electricity through our intervention, today they have electricity because we have replaced those transformers.
"From the 1st of April, we are ready to release 100 Mega Watts of electricity back to the grid in our partnership with City Power, and we will continue to expand to 300 megawatts in the new financial year.
"This investment combined with smart metres can generate the megawatts needed to cushion our residents against two load shedding stages," said the premier.
The premier affirmed the government's dedication to revitalising and integrating dormant power plants into the primary grid. Moreover, the GPG is constructing 14 microgrid solar plants to illuminate all 13 informal settlements, commencing with Alexander.
"We have finalised the signing of independent power producers who are going to produce 800 Mega Watts in Merafong Farm in the Westrand," said the premier. 
"Solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems are being integrated into 21 government healthcare facilities. 
"We are removing health facilities and schools from being impacted by loadshedding. We are on course to get extra energy for the people of Gauteng," added Lesufi.