Power system forecast to be tight this week – Eskom

ESKOM has urged consumers to use electricity sparingly as the demand for power is expected to increase this week as cold weather gets a grip on parts of South Africa.

“With colder weather conditions expected across the country and the demand of electricity projected to increase, the power system is forecasted to be tight for this week. The winter plan indicates a higher demand, with three days being extremely tight, with a high risk of load shedding,” said Eskom.

In a statement on Monday, the power utility’s Group Chief Executive Phakamani Hadebe said the utility has reviewed its winter plan.

Read also: Only Stage 1 load shedding anticipated this winter

“We have done an extensive winter plan and review of our power system and identified the problems. While the plan gives us confidence that we may go through winter with no or limited load shedding, we are mindful of the potential of risks on a very tight power system which may result in shifts on the power system and which could result in load shedding,” he said.

Hadebe said Eskom has mapped out scenarios where load shedding will be implemented in cases where unplanned breakdowns increase to more than 9 500 MW, as well as where there are delays in returning units from planned maintenance or in cases of unanticipated disruptive events.

Over the next two months, Eskom expects additional power from generation units that were out for planned maintenance which is currently at about 6 000 MW and will ramp down to about 2 000 MW towards the highest demand period in May.

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