Eskom breakdowns push load shedding even higher this weekend
Eskom has announced that Stage 5 load shedding will be implemented until further notice.
This comes after the power utility recently changed the original schedule for this weekend earlier this Saturday (6 May).
Eskom said that pushing to stage 5 was necessary following the failure of five generating units; three from Medupi Power Station and two from Duvha Power Station.
“Three of these units have since been returned to service today. However, Eskom has had to rely extensively on emergency reserves which now need to be replenished before Monday.”
Eskom said that it would publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur.
The embattled power utility has been in crisis over the whole of this year with no sign of getting better any time soon.
On 5 May, National Rationalised Specifications (NRS) announced that it is finalising the revision of South Africa’s load shedding guidelines, bringing stage 8 load shedding closer to reality.
The NRS is an organisation involved in developing and compiling the code or regulation that essentially governs load shedding.
Presenting an update on the government’s progress to mitigate load shedding, Eskom said that South Africa is going to face a ‘very tough winter’, affirming what analysts and researchers have been saying for months.
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: Eskom ramps up load shedding this weekend – here’s the schedule
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