Eskom urges the public to reduce power usage

“The power system is severely constrained today due to the loss of additional generation capacity as a result of technical faults and the change in weather conditions, which has increased the demand in electricity,” Eskom said on 11 November.

According to the power utility, the situation had not improved and the power system remained severely constrained on 12 November.

Following the collapse of a coal storage silo at the Majuba power station in Mpumalanga on 1 November, Eskom was forced to implement load shedding until 10pm on 2 November.

Last week, Eskom group executive Steve Lennon said the power system was “a lot healthier”, but was now more vulnerable to variations, including extreme weather events.

The South African Weather Service forecasts rainfall until early next week and has issued a warning for heavy rainfall in southern Gauteng with potential localised flooding in areas on 12 November.

While load shedding was currently not being implemented, Eskom said the risk of load shedding would remain until its new builds, Medupi and Kusile, came online, improving the utility’s power generation capacity.

The power utility continued to urge the public to reduce their electricity usage.

Eskom called on workers to switch off all lights, with the exception of security lighting, when leaving office buildings and avoid leaving on air-conditioning overnight.

Eskom’s load shedding schedules were available on the utility’s website (loadshedding.eskom.co.za).

Customers could also contact Eskom’s call centre 086 003 7566 for additional information.