A blackout enveloped the entire town from 19:00 till 21:30 on Wednesday after the municipality requested Eskom to manage loadshedding from June 1.

The request was made because Eskom announced the future possibility of 24-hour loadshedding schedules, which would have an enormous financial impact on both the municipality and tax paying residents who are facing a 13% rise in electricity tariffs from July 1.

If a 24-hour shedule is announced, thousands in overtime will have to be paid to electricians responsible for switching between substations.

Up to now, residents could rely on the municipal schedule which was managed with precision by the town’s electricians, of which there is no short supply.

The electricians presently finish work around 16:00 and stay at the municipality until 22:00 to manage switching on the area schedule, which Middelburg residents have grown accustomed to.

The overtime implications with this arrangement is already steep, and if electricians had to be on call for loadshedding 24/7, financial implications would be grave.

It would also negatively impact on maintenance of the electrical network since electricians would be on loadshedding duty day and night.

In stead of area loadshedding, the entire town will now be dark for between two and four hours.

A loadshedding schedule for Middelburg is already online and can be viewed via internet on loadshedding.eskom.co.za

While mayoral committee member, Ms Rehana Pilodia blamed Eskom for the blackout on Facebook on Wednesday, Eskom spokesperson, Ms Juanita Vogel, blamed the municipality.

Both Ms Pilodia and Ms Vogel was unaware of the arrangements between the municipality and Eskom, much like the rest of us.

A municipal advertisement informing residents of the change was however published in the Observer last week.

In it, residents are advised to expect interruptions at any time of the day, for up to 2½ hours, though Ms Vogel says it may be four hours at a time.

Residents are up in arms over the fact that eMalahleni, who owes hundreds of millions in power debts, are still enjoying area loadshedding while Middelburg must endure blackouts.

Ms Vogel confirmed that eMalahleni’s area loadshedding was being managed by Eskom.

Eskom is however simply complying with the municipality’s request for a blackout of the entire Middelburg network.

eMalahelni also reached a 24-month payment agreement with Eskom for the settling of outstanding debts, leading to the power giant abandoning its plans to switch off eMalahleni’s network on June 11.

Meanwhile, Clubville residents have been enduring blackouts since Tuesday due to electrical cables being damaged by water services contractors busy installing new waterlines there.

On Tuesday Clubville residents were without electricity from 15:00 to 19:00, and on Wednesday from 17:00 till 02:00 Thursday morning.