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Load shedding update: Eskom to implement Stage 2 until Sunday 23 February
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s that time again, folks. Eskom announced that it would be implementing Stage 2 load shedding until 6:00 on Sunday 23 February.
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Please don’t hate the messenger. Eskom announced that stage 2 rotational load shedding will be in place until the weekend.
Stage 2 load shedding – 20 to 23 February
The embattled power utility’s latest power alert confirms that load shedding is here to stay, until 6:00 on Sunday 23 February due to the “loss of additional units”.
The most recent setback increased the shortage in capacity and Stage 2 rotational load shedding “will be necessary on Saturday to replenish reserves to better prepare for the coming week”, Eskom said.
Unplanned and planned outages
According to Eskom, unplanned outages and breakdowns were at 12 225 MW at 16:00 on Thursday 20 February. In addition, planned outages are at 4 554 MW.
“Emergency reserves are currently being utilised to supplement the shortage in capacity […] The system remains vulnerable and constrained, and as such we remind customers that any shift in the system performance will require a change in the stage of load shedding at short notice”.
Eskom will provide updates at regular intervals, but the long and the short of it is that Eskom can change the stage of rotational load shedding at any time, with short or no notice to consumers.
Where to find load shedding updates
Find updates on Eskom’s official social media pages:
- Twitter: @Eskom_SA
- Facebook: Eskom Hld SOC Ltd
- LinkedIn Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd
The power utility also requests that all citizens continue to use electricity sparingly by following the guidelines set out here. And don’t pack the candles away any time soon. A spokesperson added:
“Eskom also reminds South Africans that there is a possibility of increased load shedding over the next 18 months as we are conducting critical maintenance to restore the ageing plant to good health”.
#POWERALERT 2
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) February 20, 2020
Date: 20 February 2020
Stage 2 rotational loadshedding will continue until Sunday at 06:00 @SABCNewsOnline @eNCA @ewnupdates @IOL @SABCRadio @TheSAnews @TimesLIVE @News24 @SAgovnews pic.twitter.com/WUlkSGOns0
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