Load shedding: Dark weekend ahead – Here’s when the lights go off today
Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 11am on Wednesday, due to a shortage of generation capacity, Eskom announced this morning.
This, the utility said, was due to the breakdowns of two more generating units that occurred during the night.
Efforts to use emergency reserves have been in vain, as these have now been depleted and need to be replenished, Eskom explained.
The latest bout of load shedding, which is scheduled until 5am on Monday, will be utilised to “replenish the emergency reserves”.
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Unit woes
Eskom said one unit at Kusile and another and Kendal power stations tripped. This, combined with the return of units at Kusile, Tutuka, Duvha, Lethabo and Grootvlei power stations has contributed to current supply constraints.
Three generating units are however expected to return to service by Wednesday afternoon.
Despite this, emergency generating reserves are still running dangerously low.
Total breakdowns are at 14 994MW, with planned maintenance at 4 435MW capacity, with “reliability maintenance” continuing, Eskom said.
“Eskom appeals to all South Africans to help limit the impact of load shedding by reducing the usage of electricity and to switch off non-essential items.”