Power utility Eskom says that it will continue load shedding at stage 4 and stage 5, and won’t be returning to stage 3 as previously planned.<\/p>\n
The group said that stage 4 load shedding will be implemented between 05h00 and 16h00 during the day, with a switch over to stage 5 in the evening between 16h00 and 05h00.<\/p>\n
Eskom was forced into higher stages of load shedding on Tuesday following the breakdown of three units. The initial plan was to return to stage 3 load shedding during the day, but this is now no longer the case.<\/p>\n
Tuesday, 23 May<\/strong><\/p>\n Wednesday, 24 May<\/strong><\/p>\n The group said that breakdowns are currently at 18,177MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 2,629MW.<\/p>\n Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit each at Duvha, Kriel, Majuba, Medupi and Tutuka power stations were returned to service.<\/p>\n In the same period, a generation unit each at Arnot, Camden, Tutuka and two generating units at Kriel power stations were taken out of service due to breakdowns.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the delay in returning units to service at Arnot, Kendal, Kriel, Lethabo, Matla, Tutuka and two generating units at Hendrina power stations continue to add to the current capacity constraints.<\/p>\n Having outages over 18,000MW is notable because this is the worst-case scenario level for the power utility in the coming months.<\/p>\n In its latest state of the system briefing for winter, Eskom said that if outages exceed 18,000MW during peak winter demand there is a high likelihood that stage 8 load shedding will have to be implemented.<\/p>\n The group’s base case – where it will be able to keep load shedding limited to between stage 3 and stage 5 – is to keep outages below 16,000MW. Eskom has been unable to keep outages at these levels with any consistency.<\/p>\n Business groups have accepted that stage 8 load shedding in the coming months is all but guaranteed, warning that costs of running diesel generators will escalate and profits will take a hit.<\/p>\n Stage 8 load shedding will see around half the day spent without power, with 16 hours scheduled for outages in a 32 hour period.<\/p>\n Despite claims from the ANC that load shedding will be resolved by the end of the year, the government has admitted that this is not possible, and energy experts, analysts and investors have all warned that load shedding is likely to be around for years to come.<\/p>\n Schedules\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:<\/p>\n For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on\u00a0loadshedding.eskom.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n\n
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