In the grip of a cold snap and with intensified load-shedding, South Africans are battling to keep warm. The question on people’s lips is whether the Eskom reprieve is now over and what the energy future holds.

As temperatures plummet, the demand for electricity soars, increasing the burden on our over-extended electricity grid. Eskom yesterday announced that stage 2 and 4 power cuts will be implemented daily – but can even higher stages of load-shedding be expected?

Also read: ‘Very difficult winter’ as stage 8 looms – Eskom

Vally Padayachee, the chairperson of the management committee of the National Rationalised Specifications (NRS) Association of South Africa – a voluntary industry specifications developer – says that while the possibility cannot be ruled out, there is no need to panic.

The association was tasked with compiling edition three of the National Rationalised Specifications (NRS048-9) Code of Practice (CoP), which plans for load-shedding beyond stage 8 should hard decisions need to be made to prevent a national blackout.

Last month, the CoP was finalised, unanimously accepted by the association’s management committee, and sent to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on June 30 to set in motion the ‘legal and compliance-mandating approval process’.

Speaking to Caxton Local Media, Padayachee explained that although the NRS048-9 Edition Three CoP has formally been approved by the association, it will remain a ‘voluntary CoP’ until Nersa, an entity established in terms of Section 3 of the National Energy Regulator Act 40 of 2004, gives final approval.

Stage 16

Edition two of the code has protocols governing up to eight stages of load-shedding, while edition three has 16 stages. While Padayachee believes it is highly unlikely that stage 16 will be reached, he explained it would mean 24 hours of load-shedding in a 32-hour cycle.

Read more: Is stage 16 a possibility? Not yet – expert and Eskom

Tools at hand to prevent grid collapse

Padayachee emphasised that load-shedding remains the best tool to prevent a total blackout or grid collapse.

“Until Nersa concludes its processes with respect to edition three, edition two will continue to remain the legally mandated licensed condition CoP in operation.”

Despite edition two including only eight stages of load-shedding, Padayachee said this does not mean those tasked with preventing a total blackout cannot, in consideration of prevention, implement higher stages.

“Highly-trained individuals at the Eskom system operator, Eskom national control, the various Eskom distribution centres and municipal distribution centres countrywide are tasked with maintaining the integrity of the grid,” he added.

Generation capacity continues to improve – Ramokgopa

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Sunday spoke during his weekly media briefing on progress made regarding the implementation of the Energy Action Plan.

He said South Africa’s electricity generation capacity continues to show signs of improvement and stabilisation.