Winter puts strain on Eskom
Load shedding could come into effect as the national power system comes under stress.
Eskom has warned that load shedding might be on the cards as winter sets in.
In a statement released yesterday, the national power supplier said that the power system is constrained
because of the unavailability of some generating units.
Eskom has called on consumers to help relieve electricity demand.
People are urged to switch off electrical heaters, geysers, pool pumps and all non-essential appliances.
“We require voluntary savings of at least 10% in order to manage demand.” the statement said.
The onset of winter has put serious pressure on the national power grid in previous years as people begin to use heaters and other appliances.
“We have noted rising demand especially during peak hours as the cold weather sets in.”
The service provider has said it is doing its best to keep lights on but stressed that customers need to work with them in order to reduce electricity usage.
The maintenance schedule of stations and infrastructure is also on track and is being scaled down in preparation for winter.
However, unplanned power outages could add pressure to an already stressed system.
“Eskom will utilise all necessary emergency resources at its disposal, but should the demand not decrease, load shedding will be implemented as a last resort to protect the national grid from a total shutdown,” the statement said.
If load shedding is brought into effect, Eskom has published load shedding schedules which are available on their website.
For local queries you can contact Eskom on 086 003 7566.
Eskom will also give regular updates on the status of the power system on various media platforms.
