/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Eskom terminated Stage 2 loadshedding at 05:00 today, after having to loadshed from 16:00 on Thursday evening.   As the generating plant continues to perform at low levels of reliability, our technical teams were unable to return units from planned or unplanned maintenance as scheduled. With units not returning, we were unable to replenish water reserves overnight for our pumped storage schemes. As the electricity system continues to remain under severe pressure with unplanned breakdowns remaining above 12 500MW, Stage 2 loadshedding will regrettably be implemented from 09:00 until 06:00 tomorrow morning.

We are currently utilizing diesel at our open cycle gas turbine to supplement capacity and to limit the level of loadshedding, of which we currently have sufficient reserves.

Eskom’s Emergency Response Command Centre (ERCC) continues to monitor the system, while our technical teams continue to work around the clock to return additional units to the grid. With the incessant rain, we are beginning to experiencing coal handling problems at a number of our power stations as a result of wet coal, which has contributed to additional load losses. This could further impact supply as the rainy weather persists. While not expected or planned, further deterioration of plant performance or emergence of other risks may necessitate invoking further stages of load-shedding.

In the System Status Briefing of 4 September 2019 Eskom warned that in order to avoid loadshedding in summer, unplanned breakdowns needed to be contained at below 9 500MW. In the event that generator breakdowns are experienced beyond 10 500MW there will be high usage of emergency resources (diesel and pumped storage generators), which may lead to loadshedding, if the supply constraints is sustained for a long duration.

A concerted collective effort to reduce demand can help to avoid or lessen the level of loadshedding. As we are experiencing rainy and cold weather conditions in some parts of the country, we ask that you use efficient heating to keep warm and switch off your geysers over peak periods.  At the end of the day, turn off computers, copiers, printers and fax machines at the switch. Avoid stand-by or sleep mode.

We remind customers that loadshedding is a controlled measure to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout. Eskom implemented stage 2 loadshedding yesterday from 16:00 to 05:00 this morning to protect the power system from a total collapse as unplanned outages were above 9 500MW.

We will keep South Africans informed about the status of the electricity system and our recovery efforts throughout this period.

Eskom customers can check their loadshedding schedules on the Eskom website (loadshedding.eskom.co.za) or through the customer contact centre on 0860037566.

Eskom sincerely apologises to our customers and South Africans for the inconvenience.

Issued by Eskom