Load shedding low down: Here’s what to expect for the long weekend

Eskom is implementing varying stages of load shedding over the long weekend. On Thursday: stage 2 load shedding will be in pace from 5am to 4pm.

Stage 4 load shedding will then be implemented from 4pm until 5am on Friday.

Thereafter, various stages of load shedding will be implemented; see table below.

“Breakdowns are currently at 16 283MW of generating capacity, while the generating capacity out of
service for planned maintenance is 5 065MW,” said the practically powerless parastatal.

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“Over the past 24 hours, a generation unit at the Kriel Power Station was returned to service.
In the same period, a generating unit each at Camden and Duvha power stations was taken offline for
repairs.”

Meanwhile, there have been delays in returning a unit to service at Kendal and two units each at Kriel and Tutuka power stations which are the culprits behind the current capacity constraints.

“The team is working around the clock to ensure that generating units are returned to service as soon as possible,” said Eskom.

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Eskom forces small town to dump its excess solar power

While Eskom has urged South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly and efficiently to help alleviate the pressure on the power system, it also sought a court order to make a Free State small town dump its excess solar-generated power during rolling blackouts.

Residents and business owners in the Free State town of Frankfort last week faced renewed debilitating load shedding despite the excess energy available to them from four private solar farms in the area.

Portions of the solar panels had to be shut down and stand idle, leaving residents at the mercy of the non-performing power utility.

This is because the local Mafube municipality failed to support a court application by its own service provider Rural Maintenance, to retain control over the implementation of load shedding in the municipal area.

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