![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Dan-Marokane.jpg\")
<\/a>Mamphweli\u2019s views align with Professor Hartmut Winkler\u2019s from the University of Johannesburg, who said load shedding will return despite lower demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winkler explained that the load shedding reprieve over the last few weeks is due to South Africans using less power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Electricity demand is 6% less in 2024 than in 2023. This is partly because many businesses and households have installed rooftop solar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During winter, the electricity demand in South Africa is around 6,000 MW higher than during summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During its Winter 2024 Outlook presentation, Eskom said South Africans may see load shedding this winter, but it will likely be limited to stage 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane said their likely risk scenario indicates load shedding will remain at stage 2 and below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marokane said their likely scenario, which assumes an average of 15,500MW of breakdowns, indicates that load shedding will be limited to stage 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should the worst-case scenario be realised, where breakdowns hit 17,000MW, load shedding could hit stage 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winkler said this is an optimistic view, adding that he expects South Africa to oscillate between stage 1 and 3 during winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa also warned that load shedding was not a thing of the past and that Eskom will experience setbacks in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are still working on the reliability of Eskom\u2019s generating units, and that\u2019s why you can\u2019t speak with great confidence that load shedding is behind us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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