The metro took a moment to explain how the load shedding stages work and how the metro reacts in each stage.
The metro only sheds in areas that are supplied by the municipality.
Areas supplied by Eskom, are control by Eskom and residents are encouraged to view Eskom’s load shedding schedule for all three stages.
The metro also does not shed industrial areas during stage one and stage two.
“This is why areas falling under an industrial area do not appear on the metro’s load shedding schedule,” explained Themba Gadebe, spokesman for the metro.
“In the event that a non-residential area does not appear on the schedule, residents are encouraged to inform the municipality as there might be an error on the schedule.
“An investigation will be carried through and the areas that are supplied by the municipality will be included on an amended load shedding schedule.”
Gadebe went on to explain that load shedding is implemented equitably to ensure that there is a fair rotation of load shedding to all customers throughout the day.
“This is done to avoid customers from being affected at the same time of the days when load shedding is implemented.
“If a customer were affected on a day at 5.30pm and 8pm for example, the next day the customer will be affected on a different time slot.”
How does the different load shedding stages work?
- Stage One
Stage one is implemented when Eskom requests for load shedding range from between 10MW to 300MW.
“In this stage areas to be affected are divided into two equal load sizes to accommodate Eskom load reduction needs,” Gadebe said.
“If the metro schedule has eight areas in a block to be affected , only four of the eight areas may be affected on day one and the other remaining four areas will be affected on day two.”
- Stage Two
When stage two is declared, the metro’s schedules are implemented in full.
If there are eight areas in a block, all eight areas will be affected.
- Stage Three
When Eskom’s grid in under severe pressure stage three is implemented.
“Stage three is completely out of metro’s control and is implemented by Eskom to protect the National Grid from collapsing and avoid a blackout.
“Due to the sudden and unplanned loss of generation capacity from Eskom, the metro seldom receives an early notification that Stage three will be implemented,” Gadebe explained.
“On average, the metro receives ten minutes notification that Stage three will implemented and at times no notification is received, depending on the emergency of the situation.”
It is important to note that Eskom only takes control of the metro’s load shedding schedule at stage three.
“There are events when Eskom experiences technical challenges with their remote links to restore power resulting to their technicians having to manually restore power at substations.
“This unfortunately results to restoration time taking much longer than expected and residents complaining that the load shedding schedule is not properly followed,” concluded Gadebe.
