Eskom escalates load shedding for the week ahead – here’s the new schedule – BusinessTech

Power utility Eskom has announced that load shedding will be escalated to stages 2 and 3 in order to replenish emergency reserves ahead of the anticipated cold weather.

Eskom said stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 16:00 on Monday. Thereafter, Stage 2 and 3 load shedding will be implemented until further notice.

“After nine days of good generation performance and no load shedding, it is necessary to replenish emergency reserves ahead of the anticipated cold weather, which will increase the demand for electricity over the next few days,” it said.

Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 16:00 on Monday. Thereafter, Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Tuesday, followed by Stage 2 loadshedding until 16:00. This pattern will be repeated daily until further notice.

The schedule for the week ahead is below:

Sunday, 29 October

Monday, 30 October

• Stage 2: 00h00 to 05h00
• Stage 2: 05h00 to 16h00
• Stage 3: 16h00 to 00h00

Tuesday, 31 October

• Stage 3: 00h00 to 05h00
• Stage 2: 05h00 to 16h00
• Stage 3: 16h00 to 00h00

Eskom said that it would closely monitor the power system and communicate any changes to load shedding should it be required.

Breakdowns are currently at 16 150MW of generating capacity, while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 5 950MW.

Eskom also noted that, over the past 24 hours, a generation unit each at Duvha, Grootvlei, Kusile and Matimba power stations was taken offline for repairs. In the same period, a generation unit at Kriel Power Station was returned to service.

Eskom teams are working tirelessly to ensure that additional generating units are returned to service as soon as possible, it said.

Eskom’s load forecast for the evening peak demand is 24 824MW, and Monday’s peak demand is anticipated to be 27 557MW. We appeal to the members of the public to continue reducing demand by switching off non-essential appliances.

The utility added that it would like to thank those who do heed the call to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, including switching off geysers and pool pumps from 17:00 to 21:00, as this lowers demand and helps in alleviating the pressure on the power system and contributes to lower stages of load shedding.

Schedules 

For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:

For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.

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.

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