Loadshedding update: Further breakdowns sees the return of stage 4

Due to the breakdown of four generating units and delays in returning some units to service, Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented with immediate effect until 05:00 in the morning.

In a short statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, Eskom said stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 5am until 4pm.

This comes just a few days after the country enjoyed a loadshedding-free Christmas.

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On Monday, the power utility announced stage 1 would be implemented from 5am until further notice due to the lower demand for electricity during the day.

The situation then changed again on Tuesday with the return of stage 3 which was meant to be in place for the remainder of this week.

Loadshedding has without a doubt had a negative impact on businesses.

Fast food giant KFC has announced the closure of some of its branches.

ALSO READ: Finger lickin’ bad: KFC to close some branches due to load shedding

Meanwhile last month, Eskom said it did not plan to order any more diesel until 1 April 2023, after exceeding its R11 billion diesel budget by about R1 billion.

This means that for the next few months, it will struggle to afford to run its diesel-powered emergency generation fleet through Open Cycle Gas Turbine power stations.

Eskom has incurred a net loss of R12.3 billion, it announced while presenting its annual results for the 2021/22 financial year last week.