Load shedding latest: Eskom just dimmed the switch on rest of our week…

Not even South Africa’s classic new “generator anthem” can lighten the load of Eskom’s latest announcement that Stage 4 load shedding will now continue to be implemented daily until 5am on Sunday this week.

Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented until 4pm Sunday afternoon.

Why Eskom is ramping up load shedding…again

Early this morning, the embattled power utility shared the rather ominous news that it suffered “the loss of three generation units last night”.

In its afternoon update of all-day Stage 4 load shedding, Eskom explained the escalation in power cuts was “necessary due to the need to recover emergency generation reserves, and the generation maintenance to be implemented in preparation for the coming week.”

Updated load shedding schedule

Thursday, 31 August

• Stage 4: 12am to 12am

Friday, 1 September

• Stage 4: 12am to 12am

Saturday, 2 September

• Stage 4: 00h00 to 00h00

Sunday, 3 September

• Stage 4: 00h00 to 05h00
• Stage 2: 05h00 onwards

#POWERALERT1

Stage 4 loadshedding will continue to be implemented daily until 05:00 on Sunday pic.twitter.com/gNSVYjaiSJ

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) August 31, 2023

Current capacity constraints

Breakdowns are currently at 14,953MW of generating capacity – below the group’s target of 15,000MW – while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 5,914MW.

According to Eskom, a generating unit at Arnot and Kriel power stations were taken offline for repairs.

Subsequently, a generating unit at Arnot, Duvha and Tutuka power stations was returned to service.

The delay in returning to service a generating unit at Kendal and Tutuka power stations is also contributing to the current capacity constraints.

ALSO READ: ‘Outright lies’: DA accuses Mbeki of trying to shift blame for load shedding

‘Brics summit over, we are on our own’

The news was met by comments on social media, such as “Brics summit over, we are on our own” and “Eskom, is the PCLF [Planned Capability Loss Factor] in line with your projections? I think you rushed to ramp us maintenance without having the necessary buffer”.

Jip, not even King Price Insurance’s viral advert of Mzansi’s “new national anthem” can “generate gees”. But just in case it might bring the odd smile in the darkness, we’ll share it again. Take a look…

Load shedding schedules for SA metros

The load shedding schedules of major metros are available here:

• City of Johannesburg
• City of Ekurhuleni 
• City of Tshwane 
• City of Cape Town (PDF)
• Nelson Mandela Bay
• eThekwini
• Manguang
• Buffalo City

For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.

NOW READ: Eskom lost R5 billion between April and June