The sudden cold snap that resulted in hailstorms in Gauteng on Thursday lifted peak demand by 6.1% to 33\u201a910 Megawatts (MW) on September 6 from 31\u201a967MW on September 3 Eskom said in its 69th system status bulletin.<\/p>\n
In its 68th bulletin\u201a Eskom<\/a> forecast peak demand would only be 32\u201a432MW on September 6.<\/p>\n The 1\u201a478MW forecast error was more than the 1\u201a090MW margin between the available capacity of 35\u201a000MW and the estimated peak demand on September 6 and shows just how extremely tight the balance is between electricity supply and demand until the new Medupi<\/a> power station\u201a which has already been hit by industrial action and construction delays\u201a comes online some time towards the end of next year.<\/p>\n Eskom said that calm had been restored at the Medupi Power Station Project site\u201a following protest action by a group of workers on September 6.<\/p>\n The protest was contained rapidly but all workers on site were sent home as a precautionary measure\u201a to ensure the safety of people and equipment.<\/p>\n The protest action by the workers\u201a who are employed by the Medupi Power Station Civils Joint Venture (MPSJV)\u201a resulted in some damage to vehicles and equipment\u201a but there were no injuries.<\/p>\n Eskom is engaging with contractors and stakeholders to resolve the situation.<\/p>\n Medupi\u201a the 4\u201a764 MW power station which Eskom is building at Lephalale in Limpopo province\u201a is on track to start generating power for the national grid next year. There are currently about 17\u201a000 workers on site at Medupi.<\/p>\n Unplanned outages jumped to this year\u2019s peak of 6\u201a429 Megawatts (MW) on September 3 from 4\u201a973MW on August 30\u201a and then eased to 5\u201a900MW on September 6.<\/p>\n Planned maintenance on September 6 eased to 1\u201a445MW from 1\u201a635MW on September 3 and 2\u201a603MW on August 30 and the lowest level this year of 845MW on July 30.<\/p>\n The peak planned maintenance so far this year was 7\u201a473MW on April 5\u201a while the peak unplanned outages were 6\u201a429MW on September 3.<\/p>\n Available capacity on May 21 was 34\u201a884MW\u201a when peak demand was 34\u201a390MW. This meant that spare capacity on May 21 was only 454MW or less than one 600MW modern generator at a coal fired power station. This was a margin of 1.3%. The international norm is 15% as utilities need to provide for both planned maintenance and unplanned outages. On January 9 peak demand of 30\u201a282MW was met by available capacity of 30\u201a742MW or a margin of 1.5%.<\/p>\n Peak evening demand is expected to ease next week this week from 33\u201a910MW on September 6 to 32\u201a454MW on Monday\u201a 32\u201a374MW on Tuesday and 32\u201a376MW on Wednesday as SA gradually warms up from its recent cold snap.<\/p>\n On August 7 Gauteng experienced its first widespread snowfalls since September 1981.<\/p>\n The highest actual peak demand of 35\u201a527MW took place on August 7.<\/p>\n The peak demand so far this year was supposed to be 36\u201a258MW on July 16 according to the 54th system status bulletin. Demand side management\u201a which involves asking large industrial users to temporarily stop some industrial processes\u201a meant that the actual peak demand was only 35\u201a443MW or a saving of 815MW on July 16.<\/p>\n Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n Eskom seeks extension for tariff application<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Eskom weighing tariff hikes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Electricity production down 2.3% in June – Stats SA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Stiff electricity tariff hikes proposed by Eskom<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Eskom applies for third MYPD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Feb elec consumption up 1.8% y\/y vs 0.4% in Jan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n