Eskom will implement stage 2 load shedding from 06:00 this morning, and this is likely to continue until 22:00 this evening.<\/p>\n
This followed stage 2 and stage 3 load shedding on Tuesday, with Eskom assuring customers that load shedding is implemented as a necessary measure to protect the power system.<\/p>\n
Deferred generator maintenance has caused an overload of unplanned repairs, resulting in a week of darkness for South Africa.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, unplanned outages resulted in 9 500MW being cut off the grid, while planned outages accounted for 5 000MW, according to Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe.<\/p>\n
After implementing a third day of stage 2 (2 000MW cut) load shedding at 06:00 on Tuesday, Eskom escalated the outages to stage 3 (4 000MW cut) at 18:00.<\/p>\n
“Any additional changes on the already vulnerable and constrained power system could lead to a change in the stage of load shedding at short notice. We will communicate if there is a need to change stages,” Eskom said in a statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“The electricity supply system remains very constrained and vulnerable due to a shortage of generation capacity as several units are currently out of service due to planned and unplanned outages.”<\/p>\n