Load-shedding is here to stay, says expert

AS the festive season unfolds, load-shedding has returned, with Eskom implementing Stage 5 load-shedding last week. With ongoing maintenance shortfalls, load-shedding is here to stay for the next few years and may even reach Stage 8 with lengthier outages for the consumer. This according to Dr Katleho Moloi, Deputy HOD for the Department of Electrical Power Engineering at Durban University of Technology.

Speaking to Berea Mail, Moloi said the current power crisis is a result of bad maintenance.

“The issues are multidisciplinary in nature. The freight-generating capacity we have is old – I think we are averaging 40 years plus at most power stations. Eskom has neglected the maintenance strategy programme. If a system is not maintained as per its design, it will collapse. Stage 8 load-shedding is a possibility if current breakdowns are not repaired as a matter of urgency,” said Moloi.

He added that generators work as an integrated system to generate power.

“Generators are interconnected together in a grid. Under normal circumstances, they operate under a nominal operating limit. If one generator is out, it puts a strain on the remaining generators, hence load-shedding is implemented as there is not sufficient power to meet the demand. Load-shedding is a safety measure to protect the grid from collapsing completely,” said Moloi.

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While Stage 8 load-shedding could leave consumers without power for as much as 12 hours at a time, Moloi said this would not impact on power surges.

“If you connect a hosepipe to a tap and close the pipe for a while, water will spray out with more pressure when the pipe is opened again. This is what happens during load-shedding, however, there is no relationship between the power outage time and the speed in which a power surge is generated. If you take power away for 30 days or one hour, it will have the same impact because we use an alternating current, which can’t be stored,” explained Moloi who advised consumers to purchase a surge protector to protect their appliances.

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While a maintenance programme is the first step in addressing the power crisis, Moloi said consumers should consider alternates where possible.

“The first solution is for Eskom to continue progressively with a maintenance programme. It is also important that citizens are aware of the load-shedding schedule. I would advise people to consider investing in alternate energy. We are probably going to have load-shedding for the next two to three years,” he said.

“Eskom is a national asset – its high-time stakeholders and experts come together – particularly professors – to find solutions. Eskom must implement an open-door policy where experts are invited to contribute to the betterment of the system. We must also ask why some newly built plants are not operating as they should. With quality supplies, Eskom engineers could do their work uninhibited,” concluded Moloi.