load shedding

An illuminated signboard on display outside the Eskom Regional Office in Braamfontein, Johannesburg during load-shedding (rolling blackout) on 31 January, 2023. (Photo by – / AFP)

Stage 7? Eskom cut more than 7000MW on Tuesday evening

Eskom cut more than 7000MW during the Tuesday evening peak. Stage 6 load shedding was implemented indefinitely on Sunday.

load shedding

An illuminated signboard on display outside the Eskom Regional Office in Braamfontein, Johannesburg during load-shedding (rolling blackout) on 31 January, 2023. (Photo by – / AFP)

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshasha provides the breakdown of electricity usage on a daily basis. On Tuesday night, 21 February, he revealed a significant shortfall in electricity generation.

LOAD SHEDDING FEEDBACK

According to the Evening Peak Feedback, 7045MW were shed on Tuesday. According to the power utility’s usual explanation of how load shedding is implemented, one stage of load shedding is equal to 1000MW.

There was a total demand of 30 480MW during the Tuesday evening peak, while available generation was just 23 289MW.

This means South Africa experienced Stage 7 load shedding on Tuesday night without the power utility notifying the public.

Eskom implemented Stage 6 power cuts indefinitely on 19 February after eight generating units broke down.

As previously reported, in September 2022, energy expert Ted Blom accused Eskom of understating load shedding levels.

Blom said Eskom ignored the rules regarding load shedding announcements via his Twitter account.

“They ignore the rules, and the rules allow 2000MW load shedding from corporations before the general public.

“So actual load shedding is probably two stages or even three stages higher than [the] Eskom statement,” he said.

READ MORE: Eskom accused of understating load shedding – expert says we’re likely at Stage 7 or 8

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