Get out the candles, load shedding expected from 4pm to 10pm
JOBURG - Eskom will implement stage 1 load shedding from 4pm which is likely to continue until 10pm tonight.
This despite an earlier statement by the company saying there was no planned load shedding for today as Eskom had enough generating capacity to meet the demand.
This morning the ailing public electricity entity’s statement on their website read, “The power system is expected to be constrained during the evening peak period, 5pm to 9pm.” Eskom stated that this was mainly due to an increased electricity demand and generating units being out of service due to maintenance.
The company also said the electricity system will remain significantly constrained today and for the rest of the week.
“This means that the risk of load shedding is very high during evening peak periods. We, therefore, request that South Africans continue to use electricity sparingly and make this a lifestyle as we are managing a very tight system,” the statement read.
Eskom also called on all South Africans to pull together over the next few months and use electricity sparingly.
However this afternoon, on the company’s twitter handle Eskom Hld SOC Ltd @Eskom_SA, it was stated, “Eskom will implement stage 1 load_shedding from 4pm today, which is likely to continue until 10 this evening.”
Homeowners and businesses can help by following four steps:
- By switching off geysers and pool pumps
- Switching off non-essential lights
- Efficient use of air conditioners by keeping the room temperature at 23 degrees Celsius
- Responding to the alerts on TV every evening.
Commercial customers, particularly shopping centres and office blocks, can also make a big difference by switching off non-essential lights and not leaving office equipment such as photocopiers and computers on standby mode after hours. Eskom will provide regular updates on the status of the power system through all media platforms.
