Load shedding pushed higher as 4 units go down – here’s the new schedule –

Power utility Eskom says that the loss of four of its units and the high levels of maintenance currently being done means that load shedding will have to be bumped up on Wednesday (17 January).

This is despite the return to service of 3,200MW of generation capacity in the last 48 hours, it said.

Stage 3 load shedding will kick in from 16h00 on Wednesday and will continue until 05h00 on Thursday. Stage 2 load shedding will then continue from 05h00 to 16h00.

The pattern of switching between stage 2 and stage 3 in those time slots will continue until further notices, it said, with a weekend schedule expected on Friday.

“Eskom will closely monitor the power system and communicate should any significant changes occur,” it said.

Wednesday, 17 January

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

Thursday, 18 January

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

Friday, 19 January

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

Breakdowns are currently at 14,894MW of generating capacity, while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 8,336MW.

The group is trying to return 606MW of generating capacity by Wednesday evening, with the evening peak forecast at 25,503MW.

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.

Read: Eskom’s big turnaround plan is happening – 25 years after it was first recommended