The new year is off to a dark start, as load shedding is back in action. Eskom announced that they will implement Stage 2 load shedding on Wednesday [January 6] and Thursday evening [January 7].
In a statement, the embattled power utility explained that Stage 2 load shedding will run from 10pm to 5am on both Wednesday and Thursday.
The loadshedding is necessary in order to recover and preserve the emergency generation reserves that have been utilised to support the system during the week following the earlier than planned shutdown of Koeberg Unit 1 and other units whose return to service has been delayed.
“We currently have 6 672MW on planned maintenance, while another 12 073MW of capacity is unavailable due to unplanned maintenance. Eskom teams are working around the clock to return as many of these units to service as soon as possible,” reads the statement.
Eskom to implement Stage 2 loadshedding from 22:00 until 05:00 for two nights@News24 @SABCNews @NewzroomAfrika @eNCA @IOL @ewnupdates @SundayTimesZA @SowetanLIVE pic.twitter.com/sLPsf5c7gv
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) January 6, 2021
“Eskom would like to urge the public to reduce electricity consumption in order to help us minimize loadshedding. The system remains vulnerable and unpredictable. Loadshedding is implemented as a last resort in order to protect the integrity of the system.”
Eskom continues to implement reliability maintenance during this period, and thus the system will continue to be constrained and the risk of load shedding remains elevated. At the moment the equivalent of two large power stations is out for planned maintenance, adding pressure to the system.
Residents are asked to use electricity sparingly. Visit www.SavingElectricity.org.za for tips to save electricity and follow load shedding developments on www.capetown.gov.za/loadshedding.
To check your load shedding schedule, click here.
Picture: Pexels