Stage two loadshedding kicked off again country-wide this morning at 9am as the national grid continues to remain under severe pressure.

Eskom said the generating plant continued to perform at low levels of reliability and that their technical teams were unable to return units from planned or unplanned maintenance as scheduled.

“With units not returning, we were unable to replenish water reserves overnight for our pumped storage schemes.

“We are currently utilizing diesel at our open cycle gas turbine to supplement capacity and to limit the level of loadshedding, of which we currently have sufficient reserves,” said the power utility.

Eskom claimed to be also experiencing coal handling problems at a number of their power stations as a result of wet coal.

“This could further impact supply as the rainy weather persists.

“While not expected or planned, further deterioration of plant performance or emergence of other risks may necessitate invoking further stages of load-shedding.”

Eskom urged the public to use power sparingly as “a concerted collective effort to reduce demand can help to avoid or lessen the level of loadshedding”.

Loadshedding Times Stage 2

Ballito (KwaDukuza’s Southern Grid):

• Friday: No further loadshedding today.
• Saturday: 2am – 4.30am

KwaDukuza/Stanger (Northern Grid):

• Friday: 6pm – 8.30pm.
• Saturday: 2am – 4.30am

Mandeni

• Friday: No further loadshedding today.
• Saturday: 2am – 4.30am

Eskom customers can check their loadshedding schedules on the Eskom website (loadshedding.eskom.co.za) or through the customer contact centre on 0860037566.

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