Eskom to move to stage 4 load shedding – here’s the new schedule

Power utility Eskom says that load shedding will increase to stage 4 on Thursday (4 August) between 16:00-24:00, due to the continued shortage of generation capacity.

“Due to a shortage of generation capacity, coupled with the higher demand due to the colder weather, stage 2 load shedding will be implemented at 05:00-16:00 tomorrow (Thursday). Load shedding will then be increased to Stage 4 during the evening peak period of 16:00-24:00 tomorrow.

“It is anticipated that stage 2 will be implemented at 05:00-24:00 on Friday,” it said in a statement.

This load shedding, it said, will also assist in recovering emergency generation reserves, which have been utilised extensively to meet the increased demand over the last few days.

#PowerAlert2

Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented at 05:00-16:00; then will increase to Stage 4 at 16:00 – 24:00 tomorrow due to the continued shortage of generation capacity pic.twitter.com/aCDWkV6I9Z

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) August 3, 2022

The delay in returning a generation unit to service each at Arnot, Koeberg and the Kusile power stations, as well as the unplanned breakdowns of a generation unit each at Camden, Grootvlei, Lethabo, Majuba, Medupi and two units at Hendrina power stations, have exacerbated the capacity constraints, Eskom said.

Some generation units are anticipated to return to service over the next few days, the group added.

“While the return of Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is anticipated for Friday night, should there be further delays, or other unit breakdowns, load shedding might have to be extended into the weekend.”

Eskom said it currently has 2,931MW on planned maintenance, while another 15,040MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns..

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.

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