High possibility of load shedding during evening

The power system is expected to be constrained during the evening peak period between 5pm and 9pm Eskom said on Thursday.

“This mainly due to the increased electricity demand and generating units being out of service due to maintenance. As the evening temperatures begin to drop, we urge electricity users to consider energy efficient ways of keeping warm,” the power giant said in a statement.

Eskom urges all customers to continue using electricity sparingly at all times to enable the technicians to carry out the requisite maintenance of our power generating units.

Commercial customers, particularly shopping centres and office blocks, can also make a big difference by switching off non-essential lights and not leaving office equipment such as photocopiers and computers in standby mode after hours.

Eskom will provide regular updates on the status of the power system through all the media platforms.

You could save up to 10 per cent on your electricity bill without spending a cent – follow this checklist:

Hot water:
• Turn down the thermostat on your electrical element geyser to 60°C
• Don’t use hot water for tasks you can accomplish with cold water – such as rinsing dishes and vegetables
• Only use hot water for cleaning tasks that really need it, like washing your hands

Fridge freezer:
• Set your fridge to 3°C – any lower and it will use more electricity than necessary
• Make sure the seals of your fridge and freezer doors are intact
• Don’t open the door unnecessarily
• Place your fridge somewhere cool – away from sun-facing walls and windows, and as far as possible from the stove
• Defrost your chest freezer twice a year; upright freezers should be defrosted three times a year
• Don’t overfill your fridge or freezer; only use 90% of its capacity

Living rooms and bedrooms:
• Always switch off lights in unoccupied rooms
• Unplug all appliances you are not using
• Don’t leave computers, TVs and DVD players on standby – if you do, these appliances use up to 50 per cent of the power they normally use
• Keep curtains and blinds open during the day to optimise natural light and postpone switching on artificial lighting until it gets dark

Click here to view your Randfontein load shedding schedule.

Click here to view your Westonaria load shedding schedule.