Eskom has announced that it will move load shedding from stage 2 (2000MW shed from the grid) to a partial stage 3 (4000MW shed from certain areas off the grid) at 16:00 due to the vulnerable system of the grid.<\/p>\n
Eskom made the same announcement at the same time on Tuesday, revealing how sensitive the electricity situation is at the moment.<\/p>\n
Load shedding should last until 22:00, the power utility said.<\/p>\n
Public Works Minister Lynne Brown told media in Cape Town on Wednesday that Eskom only wanted to subject South Africans to a few hours of stage 3 load shedding, which is why it only implemented at from 16:00 to 22:00 and not the whole day.<\/p>\n
“There will be load shedding for the next two years,” she said. “It is time for South Africans and the economy to adapt to the situation and find a way to save electricity and manage their productivity during the few hours of load shedding when it occurs.”<\/p>\n
Power shortages in South Africa has curbed economic growth by as much as 10%, while also preventing mass employment opportunities, Dawie Roodt, chief economist at Efficient Group told Bloomberg.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is more than 300 billion rand ($25.3 billion), or more than a million job opportunities,\u201d the economist said.<\/p>\n
A presentation by the department of public enterprises to parliament at the end of March said that power cuts implemented by Eskom cost South Africa\u2019s economy R80 billion\u00a0a month.<\/p>\n
Load shedding schedules are available on its load shedding website\u00a0for Eskom customers<\/a>. Customers can also call 0860 037 566 for information.<\/p>\n Eskom moves to stage 3 load shedding<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n What about the schools and hospitals, Eskom?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on Eskom<\/h3>\n