Load shedding pushed to stage 5 as demand ticks higher
Power utility Eskom says that power demand has been higher than anticipated, and it has to once again push load shedding higher.
The group said that load shedding will be pushed up to stage 5 on Friday evening, and will continue with stage 4 load shedding over the coming weekend.
Stage 5 load shedding will kick in at 16h00 until midnight, thereafter dropping to stage 4 load shedding for the entirety of Saturday.
If demand can be managed, the utility anticipates moving to stage 2 and stage 4 load shedding on Sunday.
The new schedule is as follows:
Friday, 21 July
- Stage 5: 16h00 to 00h00
Saturday, 22 July
- Stage 4: 00h00 to 00h00
Sunday, 23 July
- Stage 4: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 2: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 4: 16h00 to 00h00
Breakdowns have reduced to 16,302MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of
service for planned maintenance is 3,616MW.
Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha and two generating units at Matla power
stations were returned to service.
In the same period, a generating unit each at Grootvlei, Kendal, Kriel and two generating units at Camden power stations were taken offline for repairs.
The delay in returning to service a generating unit at Kendal and two generating units at Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints.
The group warned earlier this week that load shedding was likely to escalate as demand ticked higher and its reserves depleted heading into the weekend.
The escalation is likely due to colder weather that is setting in around the country amid another cold front.
Schedules
For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:
- City of Johannesburg
- City of Ekurhuleni
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town (PDF)
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- eThekwini
- Manguang
- Buffalo City
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Read: Load shedding warning as another cold front hits South Africa
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