Confusion over loadshedding
JOBURG - There is confusion over the loadshedding schedule after Eskom announced that the power grid was stable for now and that the power emergency has been lifted.
UPDATE: 7 March, 1 pm:
“The decision to undertake loadshedding was not taken lightly,” said Eskom Board Chairman Zola Tsotsi at a media briefing at its Megawatt Park offices. “The impression was created that loadshedding was attributed to wet coal, but the bottom line is that the power system is very vulnerable and we need to make energy system healthier.”
Some customers are serviced by municipalities and not Eskom. Eskom does not carry these schedules but have been working with them to address the situation.
Tsotsi reiterated that loadshedding is a last resort and is used to prevent a total power blackout that could jeopordise the economic stability of the country.
“The state of emergency was lifted on 6 March. We thank the public for their cooperation.”
Brian Dames, Eskom CEO also apologised to all South Africans for the incidents of 6 March and has assured them that the utility is working to ensure that it does not revert to loadshedding. According to Dames there has been no loadshedding since 10pm on 6 March. Any power outages and robots that are not in operation have been attributed to municipal providers.
Eskom has committed to early warnings but the events of yesterday did not provide the utility sufficient opportunity to alert customers timeously.
Dames said addressing constrains on the power grid required contributions from Eskom and all parties affected.
“Demand protocols were not in place but these, which are determined by the regulator have since been put in place,” said Dames
UPDATE: 7 March, 11.30 am:
Eskom made the announcement that the power grid was stable at 10 pm on Thursday night. By 10 am Friday morning the loadshedding website stated that the utility was not currently loadshedding.
The stage two power cut plan aims at saving up to 2000MW.
On Thursday wide spread areas of Johannesburg were affected. These included Melville, Auckland Park, Westdene, Brixton, Emmarentia, Linden, Windsor West, Cresta, Radiokop, Strubens Valley, Honeydew and parts of Weltevreden Park
Residential and commercial areas felt the sting including hospitals and schools, but the etoll gantries on the N1 were apparently functional.
On Thursday, Johannesburg City Power issued a load shedding schedule as a precaution.
Spokesperson Sol Masolo said: “As we speak, now there is no load shedding. We have the schedule just in case the emergency resumes”.
Details: www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za
