BLANCHARD LAING of Palm Avenue writes:
Now that “Eishkom” has once again decided to inflict controlled power blackouts on long-suffering South Africans, sceptics like me find it very suspicious that they always seem to resort to these frustrating electricity cuts when they are applying to Nersa for another hefty tariff increase, which is way above inflation.
It is a recipe for disaster, which will have dire effects on households already battling to keep heads above water and ruinous for businesses. Not to mention it will likely tip the scale for the rating agencies to all downscale South Africa to shameful junk status.
Is Eskom using blackmail tactics to pressure Nersa to accede to its outrageous pricing demands?
Some time ago Kempton Express published a very impressive insert power cut schedule for Ekurhuleni, which greatly assisted us. Would it be possible you assist readers by publishing an updated version? We would be most grateful.
Typical of most government bureaucracies, Eskom’s power cut policy is as clear as mud. No-one knows what the difference is between stage 2 so-called load-shedding and stage 4. Both seem to cut power to residents for two hours.
But some areas are blacked out for four hours twice a day on those same stages. And if the guy that pulls the switch is catching a nap, the two hours can often stretch to two and a half hours.
Eskom recently appointed a new head with much fanfare who was touted to greatly improve the rot, but since he took office things have got markedly worse being constantly in the dark.
The palookas use multiple weird and wonderful excuses for the incessant blackouts like wet coal, broken equipment and even sabotage, and like gullible sheep we all meekly believe their glib invective and tolerate the skull duggery.
The City of Ekurhuleni is still using its 2014 schedule. Kempton Express give daily schedules on its website (based on the Ekurhuleni schedule) when load-shedding is in place to assist residents – Editor
