Stages 1 and 2 load shedding in store for Thursday

The ‘intense’ cold front currently sweeping across the country has resulted in higher energy usage, power utility Eskom has stated. As a result, it said in a statement on Wednesday evening, electricity demand has increased to it highest level this year.

By Wednesday evening the demand was 2 000MW higher than on Tuesday, with total demand topping 33 000MW.

While some units within the fleet had been brought back online, others had tripped: “Eskom teams (on Wednesday) afternoon managed to return one generation unit at the Tutuka power station.

“This, however, was countered by a generation unit each at the Medupi and Kusile power stations tripping, contributing to the constrained capacity.”

Stage 1 will resume again between 9am and 2pm on Thursday, followed by stage 2 until 10pm.

#Loadshedding update
Date: Thursday, 16 July 2020

Loadshedding stage 1 from 09:00 to 14:00

Loadshedding stage 2 from 14:00 to 22:00

Please check your schedule at https://t.co/L2FgZoHegM

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) July 16, 2020