Stage 3 load shedding implemented today as emergency reserves run out

Eskom said it will implement stage 3 load shedding from Monday, 14 November “until further notice”.

Here’s what you need to know.

Load shedding update

Stage 3 schedule

The power utility said stage 3 load shedding will be implemented on Monday from 4pm until 5am on Tuesday.

Stage 2 load shedding will then be implemented from 5am until 4pm on Tuesday, with a return to stage 3 at 4pm.

This schedule will repeat “until further notice”.

Depleted generation reserves

Eskom said stage 3 was necessary “mainly due to high levels of breakdowns as well as depleted emergency generation reserves”.

A generating unit at Duvha, Kriel and Tutuka power stations were taken offline for repairs on Sunday, while the delay in return to service at three other stations “contributed to the delays”.

Meanwhile, five units at Grootvlei, Hendrina, Majuba, Matla and Medupi were returned to service.

Eskom added: “We currently have 4 177 MW on planned maintenance, while another 16 922 MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns”.

#PowerAlert1

Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented at 16:00 today until 05:00 on Tuesday; Stage 2 and 3 will be implemented on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/76twfQV273

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) November 14, 2022

Additional information will be provided during the outlook briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

Load shedding report

Meanwhile, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) released annual statistics on South Africa’s load shedding situation during the first half of 2022.

The year started out okay, but it all went downhill from March, as revealed by the hourly distribution data of load shedding in South Africa.

In September, data gleaned from EskomSePush app confirmed South Africans exceeded 100 days of load shedding (just over 2 400 hours)

ALSO READ: ‘2022 most intensive load shedding year to date’

‘Hazard approach

Speaking to The Citizen’s Lunga Simelane back in October, energy specialist Lungile Mashele said Eskom had a “hazard approach” with regards to implementing stage 4.

She said Eskom should communicate better and more effectively with the public about whether the embattled power utility was really doing maintenance.

NOW READ: Eskom’s unplanned power cuts a major issue – energy specialist