POWER ALERT: Eskom currently using emergency resources to keep lights on
The probability of load-shedding remains low for the week. However, the system remains constrained until at least Thursday.
Eskom has announced that plant performance has deteriorated with unplanned breakdowns reaching a high of 12 500 MW before reducing to approximately 11 500 MW as at 10:00 this morning.
The power utility is currently using emergency resources such as diesel and pumped water storage to keep the lights on.
According to them, the expected return to service of several units today and tomorrow, and with current diesel reserves, the probability of load-shedding remains low for the week. However, the system remains constrained until at least Thursday.
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“We remind consumers that any unexpected shift, such as additional unplanned breakdowns or the unavailability of diesel or pumped water storage reserves, could result in load-shedding at short notice. As communicated in the Summer Plan on September 4, unplanned breakdowns above 9 500 MW require the use of emergency resources at a high rate and they increase the probability of load-shedding if the supply constraints are sustained for a long duration,” they said.
The summer maintenance programme is underway, and technical teams are working to keep schedule and bring back generating units from planned and unplanned maintenance.
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The state entity appeals to residents and businesses to use electricity sparingly by switching off geysers as well as all non-essential lighting and electricity appliances to assist in reducing demand.
