Breaking: Stage 2 load shedding EXTENDED until Saturday!

Image credit: Pixabay/fotoblend

Load shedding: Low risk of outages in the festive season

Eskom has promised that there will be very little risk of load shedding from this week through to the middle of January 2019.

Breaking: Stage 2 load shedding EXTENDED until Saturday!

Image credit: Pixabay/fotoblend

State power utility, Eskom has promised a low probability of load shedding throughout the festive season.

Over the past month, the country has experienced bouts of power failures due to pressure on the national power grid.

Minimal risk of load shedding 

There has been a bit of respite in the current week, with no load shedding implemented since the weekend, and, according to Eskom, the risk of load shedding will continue to be low up to 13 January 2019.

However, the power utility has warned that there could be more outages still, due to the heavy rains predicted over the summer.

“Heavy rains could impact coal handling and feeding to the boilers with a potential impact on general production,” the power utility said.

“While we do not anticipate load shedding, we continue to warn customers that as the system remains vulnerable, any shift could increase the probability of load shedding.”

Other factors Eskom says could affect the power grid, causing outages include technical faults on the distribution network, and consumers have been encouraged to flag these when they occur.

Eskom’s plan to minimise outages 

The Department of Public Enterprises has also chipped in to play its part in ensuring that the risk of blackouts throughout the festive season is minimised.

Minister Pravin Gordhan says managers at the power utility will not go on leave this December.

With businesses expected to operate at a higher capacity in the new year, thus putting more strain on the grid than in the quieter festive season, Eskom will also strive to be on top of maintenance activities.

“Steady progress has been made with regards to fixing stockpiles. Thirty five new coal contracts have been concluded, and in preparation for continuous rains, three days of compacted strategic stockpiles have been created at all power stations,” Eskom said.