TAKE NOTE: Load shedding Stage 2 implemented

Eskom has announced stage 2 load shedding for today, with a strong chance of further power outages throughout the week.

This comes after almost a week of power cuts across the country.

Stage 2 calls for 2000MW to be rotationally loadshed nationally to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout.

Please be advised that @Eskom_SA will implement load shedding stage 2 from 09:00 until 22:00 AND load curtailment stage 2 from 9:00 to 22:00. We apologise for the inconvenience @CityPowerJhb @eNCA @SABCNewsOnline @IOL @News24

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) December 3, 2018

ALERT: With a number of power generating units still out of service due to breakdowns, the prognosis for today is that Eskom will be forced to implement stage 2 loadshedding from 09:00 to 22:00 again.

— Khulu Phasiwe (@KhuluPhasiwe) December 3, 2018

According to Eskom, Ballito and surrounds will be without power from 12pm to 2.30pm.

Should load shedding be moved back to stage 1, Ballito will still be affected from 12pm – 2.30pm.

How does load shedding work?

Load shedding is done countrywide as a controlled option to respond to unplanned events to protect the electricity power system from a total blackout.

A country-wide blackout has much more serious consequences, which can occur when there is too much demand and too little supply, bringing the power system into an imbalance – tripping the power system in its entirety.

Load shedding stages

Four schedules have been developed based on the possibility of risk and to ensure that load shedding is applied in a fair and equitable manner:

• Stage 1 allows for up to 1000 MW of the national load to be shed.
• Stage 2 allows for up to 2000 MW of the national load to be shed.
• Stage 3 allows for up to 3000 MW of the national load to be shed.
• Stage 4 allows for up to 4000 MW of the national load to be shed.

Load shedding will be implemented in most instances in two hour blocks.

Once Eskom has decided the time frame in which it will implement load shedding nationally (eg: from 9am – 10pm), and which stage they are in, you can visit their website for a copy of the load shedding schedule, which will tell you exactly when you will be affected, should your time slot fall within the load shedding time frame selected by Eskom.

Example: If stage 1 load shedding is implemented from 9am – 10pm, and the schedule for your area says you will be affected from 3pm – 5pm, then you will only be without power between 3pm and 5pm. Or if the schedule for your area says you will be affected from 10pm – 12am then lucky you, you won’t experience load shedding.

BUT, if load shedding changes stages, it is possible you could be affected twice in one day.

Example: If stage 1 load shedding is implemented from 9am – 10pm, and the schedule for your area says you will be affected from 10am – 12pm, you will be without power between 10am – 12pm. But if it moves to stage 2, and your stage 2 schedule says you will be without power from 4pm – 6pm, then you will also be without power from 4pm to 6pm.

You can also download the Eskom app on your phone, which can be set to your exact location, providing you with a schedule for your area.

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