As communicated in the power alert issued last night, Eskom is implementing Stage 4 rotational load-shedding until 23:00 tonight as a result of shortage of capacity with a number of generating units still out of service due to breakdowns.
According to the power utility, it will communicate if there is a change in the system during the day. While progress has been made with coal handling at Medupi Power Station, breakdowns were at 15 200MW as of 05:43 today. The incessant rains continue to impact coal handling and operations at power stations. The probability for load-shedding remains high for the rest of the week.
“The Emergency Response Command Centre continues to monitor the situation and the focus is to reduce unplanned breakdowns to below 9 500MW to enable us to minimise and to stop load-shedding in the following week. We remind customers that Stage 4 is no cause for alarm as the system is effectively controlled. This is a responsible act and highly controlled process, implemented to protect the country from a national blackout,” the statement read.
During Stage 4, 4000MW is rotationally loadshed nationally at a given period. They mentioned that during this stage, approximately 80% of the country’s demand is still being met. They continue to ask customers to reduce the demand as a concerted collective effort can help to avoid or lessen the level of load-shedding.
You can check the loadshedding schedules on the Eskom website (loadshedding.eskom.co.za) or through the customer contact centre on 0860037566.
