{"id":718278,"date":"2023-09-13T14:34:48","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T12:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=718278"},"modified":"2023-09-13T14:34:48","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T12:34:48","slug":"eskom-warns-of-push-beyond-stage-6-load-shedding-as-cold-snap-hits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/energy\/718278\/eskom-warns-of-push-beyond-stage-6-load-shedding-as-cold-snap-hits\/","title":{"rendered":"Eskom warns of push beyond stage 6 load shedding as cold snap hits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Power utility Eskom has issued an alert urging South Africans to reduce electricity demand as it grapples with constrained electricity supply due to colder weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The utility is already load shedding at all-day stage 6 until further notice – any further constraints or a spike in demand threaten to push outages even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Due to the cold weather, we appeal to all members of the public to reduce the electricity demand between 17h00 and 21h00, by switching off non-essential appliances, mainly geysers, swimming pool pumps and electric heaters,” Eskom said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It noted that the evening peak forecast for Wednesday is 29,609MW, and yesterday\u2019s demand at the evening peak was 33,423MW – far higher than the forecast demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The reduction will continue to assist in alleviating pressure on the system and avoid higher stages of load shedding<\/strong>,” it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, Eskom has not pushed beyond stage 6 load shedding on a national level – though it has exceeded the 6,000MW “boundary” it broadly attaches to stage 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, the group shed over 6,000MW, cutting 6,363MW from the grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technically, this is stage 7 load shedding, according to Eskom’s own definitions; however, load shedding schedules have not pushed up to this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eskom has explained this away by pointing out that the country is at stage 6 load shedding, with additional capacity shed through load curtailment, which sees industries (and soon businesses and residential areas) cutting demand on a contract basis.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Schedules <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n