Spring day of 2020 brought with it loadshedding, leaving many residents in the dark for periods of time. One of the most confusing factors for some is the different stages that come with it.
Power utility, Eskom stated that the four schedules have been developed based on risk and to ensure that loadshedding is applied in a fair and equitable manner.
Loadshedding is in most instances implemented in two-hour time periods, however, in Eskom-supplied Johannesburg areas, blocks are four hours long to coincide with City Power’s four-hour schedule.
“Each of the time periods has an additional 30 minutes added to allow for switching of networks in a way that will not damage the power system”, Eskom said.
Eskom will begin load shedding customers at the start of the period (for example from 06:00) and will have all scheduled customers switched off within the first half-hour (that is, by 06:30) At the end of the period, after the two or four hours, Eskom will start returning power to customers and should typically have power restored within half an hour.
The frequency of load shedding increases as higher Stages are used.
- Stage 1 requires the least amount of load shedding, three times over a four day period for two hours at a time, or three times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
- Stage 2 will double the frequency of Stage 1, which means you will be scheduled for load shedding 6 times over a four day period for two hours at a time, or 6 times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time
- Stage 3 will increase the frequency of Stage 2 by 50%, which means you will be scheduled for loadshedding 9 times over a four day period for two hours at a time, or 9 times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
- Stage 4 will double the frequency of Stage 2, which means you will be scheduled for load shedding 12 times over a four day period for two hours at a time, or 12 times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
If more load needs to be shed than has been scheduled in Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 then National Control will instruct additional, unscheduled load shedding. This means you may be shed outside of your scheduled times.
- Stage 1 allows for up to 1000 MW of the national load to be shed.
- Stage 2 allows for up to 2000 MW of the national load to be shed.
- Stage 3 allows for up to 3000 MW of the national load to be shed.
- Stage 4 allows for up to 4000 MW of the national load to be shed.
Check your loadshedding schedule here:
https://loadshedding.eskom.co.za/
Or download these apps
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