Eskom warns of load shedding at short notice
Eskom's battle to keep the lights on could result in possible load shedding. The power utility is now on planned maintenance at 4 533MW, with another 13 601MW of capacity unavailable due to failures.
DUE to a delay in bringing units to operation and the loss of numerous generation units, Eskom has warned that load shedding may be implemented again at short notice on Monday.
As a result, the country’s power system is constrained. Over the last few weeks, South Africans have been subjected to rolling blackouts as Eskom battles to keep the lights on.
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Load shedding was expected to resume this week, despite being postponed on Friday evening. Sikonathi Mantshantsha, an Eskom spokesperson, says the power utility is depending on emergency reserves to satisfy demand.
“Eskom is working on returning a generation unit each at Matimba, Duvha and Arnot power stations to service before the evening peak. Today a generation unit each at Arnot, Kendal, Matla and Tutuka power stations have been returned to service. However, we will still be heavily reliant on emergency reserves to meet demand tonight. Emergency reserves are healthy to assist in reducing the supply deficit,” Mantshantsha added.
Mantshantsha has pleaded with citizens to use less electricity.
Eskom is requesting that the public decrease their electricity use because any further losses in generation capacity will compel load shedding to be implemented at short notice.
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