UPDATE: Stage 4 load-shedding begins this afternoon

UPDATE: 6 December, 1.15pm

Load-shedding has been upgraded to Stage 4 and is expected to last until 6am tomorrow morning (7 December). This is according to numerous media reports. South Africans will now experience load-shedding twice a day.

Stage 4 will be implemented from 2pm today (6 December).

Speaking to Jacaranda FM, Eskom spokesperson Dikatso Mothae said there is a high risk of load-shedding that is likely to hit homes over the weekend. She urged South Africans to assist them by reducing energy usage especially in things like photocopying machines, lights, and geysers.

Initial report: 6 December 11.37am

Eskom terminated stage 2 load-shedding today at 5am (6 December), after implementing load-shedding from 4pm on Thursday evening (5 December). 

“As the generating plant continues to perform at low levels of reliability, our technical teams were unable to return units from planned or unplanned maintenance as scheduled,’ Eskom said in a statement. 

Eskom explained that with units not returning, they were unable to replenish water reserves overnight for their pumped storage schemes. As the electricity system continues to remain under severe pressure with unplanned breakdowns remaining above 12 500MW, Stage 2 load-shedding has regrettably been implemented from 9am today until 6am tomorrow morning, 7 December. 

“We are currently utilising diesel at our open cycle gas turbine to supplement capacity and to limit the level of load-shedding, of which we currently have sufficient reserves.” 

Eskom said that its Emergency Response Command Centre (ERCC) continues to monitor the system, while its technical teams continue to work around the clock to return additional units to the grid. “With the incessant rain, we are beginning to experiencing coal handling problems at a number of our power stations as a result of wet coal, which has contributed to additional load losses.”

The power utility explained that this could further impact supply as the rainy weather persists. While not expected or planned, further deterioration of plant performance or the emergence of other risks may necessitate invoking further stages of load-shedding.

In the System Status Briefing of 4 September 2019, Eskom warned that in order to avoid load-shedding in summer, unplanned breakdowns needed to be contained at below 9 500MW. In the event that generator breakdowns are experienced beyond 10 500MW, there will be high usage of emergency resources (diesel and pumped storage generators), which may lead to load-shedding, if the supply constraints is sustained for a long duration.  

A concerted collective effort to reduce demand can help to avoid or lessen the level of load-shedding.” As we are experiencing rainy and cold weather conditions in some parts of the country, we ask that you use efficient heating to keep warm and switch off your geysers over peak periods.  At the end of the day, turn off computers, copiers, printers and fax machines at the switch. Avoid standby or sleep mode.”  

Eskom reminded customers that load-shedding is a controlled measure to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout. Eskom implemented stage 2 load-shedding yesterday from 4pm to 5pm this morning (6 December) to protect the power system from total collapse as unplanned outages were above 9 500MW.

“We will keep South Africans informed about the status of the electricity system and our recovery efforts throughout this period,” said Eskom

Eskom customers can check their load-shedding schedules on the Eskom website or through the customer contact centre on 0860037566.

Eskom sincerely apologises to its customers and South Africans for the inconvenience. 

Related article:

https://midrandreporter.co.za/231359/stage-2-load-shedding-declared-eskom/