Load shedding moves to Stage 4 – 9 December
Eskom informed residents that load shedding moved from Stage 2 to Stage 4.
This will apply from 10am to 11pm today (Monday, 9 December).
Eskom has lost additional generation units this morning and it increased unplanned breakdowns to 14 200MW.
Along with a higher demand of about 600MW, it caused load shedding to move to Stage 4.
Eskom’s press release further read: ‘In addition, with the incessant rains we are beginning to experience flooding at some power stations, which have further led to load losses and has impacted supply as the rainy weather persists.
‘The load shedding is intended, among other things, to cater for unplanned further trips and to create capacity to replenish water reserves for our pumped storage schemes.
‘We continue to utilise diesel and water resources at our open cycle gas turbines and pumped storage schemes respectively, to supplement capacity.
‘We remind customers that load shedding at Stage 4 is no cause for alarm as the system is being effectively controlled. ‘Load shedding is a responsible act and highly controlled process, implemented to protect the country form a national blackout.’
During Stage 4, 4000MW is rotationally loadshed nationally at a given period.
Even during this stage, approximately 80 per cent of the country’s demand is still being met.
Eskom urged customers to reduce the demand of electricity as a concerted collective effort to help to avoid or lessen the level of load shedding.
Visit www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za to view the load shedding schedule.
