Eskom wants consumers to delay using inverters. image: Pixabay
Some areas already experiencing higher than Stage 6 of load-shedding
Reports show that Eskom is exceeding its official communicated time in terms of load-shedding, some parts of South Africa surfer from this.
Eskom wants consumers to delay using inverters. image: Pixabay
Some areas in South Africa are experiencing higher stages of load-shedding than what Eskom officially announces.
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11 to 12 hours of load-shedding
According to MyBroadband, many people in Potchefstroom, for example, reported that they experienced between 11 and 12 hours of load-shedding per day – well outside of stage 6.
Similar experiences are shared by other people across South Africa who experience up to 12 hours of power cuts per day.
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Energy analyst Chris Yelland told ENCA that the Eskom systems operator is receiving many complaints from people about load-shedding hours longer than what is specified for stage 6.
“I know for a fact there are certain municipalities are load-shedding certain areas differently to others — you may say in a discriminatory fashion,” Yelland said.
He added that some areas, especially when institutions like hospitals are located there, receive preferential treatment.
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In turn, other areas receive higher load-shedding to compensate for the preferential treatment of some suburbs.
“So, it is happening [where some areas experience higher load shedding stages than what is public knowledge],” he said.
ALSO READ: Munyaka residents told to ‘direct their frustrations at Eskom’
Eskom exceeds not being honest in certain parts of the country
Yelland’s feedback follows numerous reports from other energy experts and business leaders that Eskom exceeds stage 6 load-shedding in parts of the country.
Pick n Pay CEO Pieter Boone said parts of the country are already experiencing stage 8 load-shedding, which impacts the food supply and creates water shortages.
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“I can assure you that in certain parts of the country, we are already in stage 8 load-shedding,” Boone said.
Pick n Pay told Daily Investor it has stores in parts of the country which have experienced power outages beyond the official numbers for prolonged periods.
