South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday, 17 May 2023

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday, 17 May 2023 Photo: Stock/Canva

Load shedding for TUESDAY: Here’s the UPDATED schedule

Eskom said load shedding will be implemented on TUESDAY. Here is your UPDATED schedule for the load shedding.

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday, 17 May 2023

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday, 17 May 2023 Photo: Stock/Canva

Eskom said load shedding would be implemented on TUESDAY. Here is your updated schedule.

LOAD SHEDDING IMPLEMENTED ON TUESDAY – WE HAVE THE UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR YOU

The power utility said due to the cold weather, the demand for electricity is higher than anticipated. In addition, the failure of two generating units, one of which has since returned to service, requires that Stage 6 load shedding be implemented at 15:00 today (previously communicated at 16:00).

Eskom said it would communicate another update as soon as any significant changes occur.

“Please note that this will be implemented until 5:00 tomorrow and the pattern as communicated yesterday will continue.”

Eskom

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HERE ARE YOUR UPDATED SCHEDULES:

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FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE MAJOR METROS, LOAD SHEDDING SCHEDULES ARE AVAILABLE BELOW:

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Load shedding on SATURDAY: Here's the UPDATED schedule
Load shedding on SATURDAY: Here’s the UPDATED schedule Photo:Eskom

 Here are six tips to mitigate against risks caused by load shedding:

  • Make use of surge protection: Electric surges are one of the biggest causes of damage to equipment during a power outage. Installing a surge protection device can help minimise some damage in unforeseen situations. Have a surge protection device fitted to your electrical distribution board or at the power outlet to the electronic device.
  • Ensure that your alarm system is working and the backup battery is fully functional to provide power to the system in the event of load shedding.
  • Spare torch or headlamp: Keep a torch in your car if you arrive home at night during a power outage. Most smartphones have built-in torch or torch apps, which come in handy during unexpected power outages.
  • Emergency contact information: Save emergency contact information on your phone, but also keep a paper copy safe and accessible. This should include contacts for emergency services such as the fire department, police, and/or medical services. Also include the contact information of friends and/or family along with insurance information. 
  • Charge your cell phone, laptop, and tablet: Ensure your cellphone, laptop, and tablet devices are fully charged ahead of scheduled blackouts. Be sure to charge them again as soon as possible after the power returns. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency phone charger (like a power bank) close by. This comes in handy during extended power outages. 
  • Gas for cooking and lighting: Get a small LP gas bottle and lamp. It gives good quality lighting for a large area and can also be used for cooking and boiling water. It’s a good idea to keep hot water in a thermal flask so that you can make hot drinks. Also, consider preparing meals beforehand if you know when there’s going to be a scheduled blackout.

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