Lone light bulb / Image via Flickr: Caleb Roenigk
Lone light bulb / Image via Flickr: Caleb Roenigk
While some generating units have returned to service, there is a risk of load shedding today.
Load shedding: Possible power cuts on Friday, 8 March
“The power system, however, remains tight and vulnerable and while Eskom is making every effort to limit load shedding, it could be implemented at short notice should there be a shift in plant performance,” said the utility.
Read – Eskom left with major shortfall after Nersa’s reduced tariff increases
Load shedding can also be included if there is a significant loss in generating plants due to unplanned technical breakdowns.
The power utility said load shedding will only be implemented if absolutely necessary.
Check if there is load shedding in your area
Eskom urged residents and business to use electricity sparingly while also advising them to check their load shedding schedules on the Eskom or municipal website, and plan on the assumption that load shedding will take place.
For Eskom customers, the schedules are available on the Eskom website. Eskom customers can also contact the customer contact centre on 0860 037 566.
Read – Natasha Mazzone lashes Eskom for their “business-killing” tariff hikes
Eskom handed a short lifeline rope by Nersa
On Thursday, the power utility was granted allowable revenue of R206.380 billion in 2019/20, R221.843 billion for financial year 2020/21 and R233.078 billon for financial year 2021/22 from the National Energy Regulator SA (Nersa).
This is in terms of its Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD) 4 application, which Eskom brought to the regulator in September 2018.
Friday’s probability of load shedding follows on the regulator’s decision to grant Eskom tariff increases of 9.41% in the 2019/20 financial year, 8.10% and 5.22% respectively over the three-year period.
Read – Eskom granted permission to hike tariffs up 22.7% by 2022
The utility had applied for a total balance of R219.6 billion for the duration of three years. For the 2019/20 year, Eskom applied for R219 billion, R252 billion for 202/21 and R291 billion for 2021/22.
Eskom had also applied for a Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) Year 5 (2017/18) balance of R21.6 billion.
The regulator approved a RCA balance of R3.869 billion, which will be recoverable from standard tariff customers, local Special Pricing Arrangement (SAPs) customers and international customers.
