Image via Adobe Stock
Thank you, Eskom…for shedding a stage in your power cuts this Sunday
Eskom says it’s all system go for Stage 2 load shedding after recovery in generation
performance was performed overnight.
Image via Adobe Stock
Eskom moved to Stage 2 load shedding from 9:00 on Sunday 16 February.
The absolute pleasure of no load shedding before and after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), was of short duration with Stage 3 load shedding hitting South Africans hard on Saturday.
“Load shedding, at Stage 3, will continue throughout the weekend until 5:00 on Monday,” the embattled power utility said in a statement.
Load shedding for Sunday 16 February
On Sunday morning, it announced that due to four generating units successfully returning to service during the night, the state-owned utility would move to Stage 2 load shedding from 9:00 on Sunday morning.
And here comes the part we’ve sadly have become used to:
“Continuing with load shedding will help replenish the emergency reserves, including the hydro-pumped storage scheme levels to better prepare for next week.
“Unplanned outage or breakdowns were at 10 235 MW as at 6.20 this morning while planned maintenance is at 6 274MW
Of course, only Eskom’s new CEO Andre de Ruyter, who was left red-faced on the SONA red carpet when the crowd greeted him as “Mr Load shedding”, will know what the above really means. To us, the only thing that would be of real consequence, would be if the utility can keep the lights on.
Load shedding could be reality still for 18 months
But according to Eskom, the by-now dreaded load shedding is a “highly controlled process implemented by the systems operator” and it would like to remind us that “inconvenient [that’s putting it mildly] as it is, load shedding is the only way to protect the entire electricity system”.
This is followed by an unfriendly reminder to power outage-hit South Africans that there is the possibility of increased load shedding over the next 18 months “as we are conducting critical maintenance to restore the ageing plant to good health”.
But for how long do we still have to hear about insufficient reserves, ageing infrastructure and maintenance problems? Surely after all these years, why has this not been dealt with in a decisive manner?
This Twitter user’s comment at the end of Eskom’s latest statement about sums it up:
Eskom added that it would keep South Africans updated on the relevant load shedding schedules should the grid experience any further turbulence.
Eskom added that it would keep South Africans updated on the relevant load shedding schedules should the grid experience any further turbulence.
Where to find load shedding updates
Eskom’s “regular updates” can be found on these verified channels:
- Twitter: @Eskom_SA
- Facebook: Eskom Hld SOC Ltd
- LinkedIn Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd
How to check your daily schedule
To find out if, or when, your area or suburb will be impacted by load shedding, you first need to know whether your supply of electricity comes directly from Eskom or from the municipality. Let’s deal with Eskom-direct supplied areas first.
Eskom’s load shedding portal provides up to date details on the current stage of load shedding, the propensity for further rotational cuts, and an area search for direct consumers.
It’s an easy-to-use search function, which although not always 100% accurate, at least provides a rough estimate of what to expect, when.
To check your daily load shedding schedule, go onto loadshedding.eskom.co.za and type either your suburb/village/area into the quick search field.
If your electricity is supplied via the municipality, you need to refer to this table and contact the relevant authorities – either via the web or phone.
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