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High possibility for Stage 2 load-shedding over the weekend
JOBURG – Eskom announced that South Africans should prepare for an increased possibility of load-shedding over the next 18 months as they are conducting critical maintenance to restore the ageing plant to good health.
As the country continues to feel the effects of Stage 2 load-shedding due to a shortage of capacity, Eskom has indicated that the end is not yet in sight.
Eskom has confirmed that there is a high possibility that Stage 2 load-shedding will continue over the weekend but the utility promised to provide updates about the development.
According to Eskom, critical maintenance is being conducted on units that are currently on planned outages. Emergency reserves are also being managed at their open cycle gas turbines and pumped storage schemes.
The power utility added that even though they were not able to suspend load-shedding during peak-hour traffic for the past few days due to ‘available generating capacity and the need to replenish emergency reserves’, the power utility would continue to explore their pilot programme to suspend load-shedding during rush hours in the mornings and evenings in an effort to ease traffic congestion.
Eskom announced that South Africans should prepare for an increased possibility of load-shedding over the next 18 months as they are conducting critical maintenance to restore the ageing plant to good health. “Customers are advised that any additional shifts on the system may require a change in the load-shedding stage.”
The utility also requested that customers use electricity sparingly. Here are some tips from Eskom to help reduce the stage of load-shedding:
- Set air-conditioners’ average temperature at 23ºC
- Switch off your geysers over peak periods
- Use the cold water tap rather than using the geyser every time
- Set your swimming pool pump cycle to run twice a day, three hours at a time
- At the end of the day, turn off computers, copiers, printers and fax machines at the switch.
Eskom appealed to customers to revisit their load-shedding schedules on the Eskom or local municipal websites, depending on their electricity supplier, to review amendments.
Related article:
https://midrandreporter.co.za/235240/safe-load-shedding/
