Eskom announces load shedding schedules
Load shedding is upon us. Here is the complete schedule for Randfontein and Westonaria.
Eskom, in declaring the latest electricity emergency on 6 March, has confirmed that load shedding has become unavoidable.
This comes after days of heavy rain left most its coal supplies wet.
Load shedding took effect in some places around the country at 9am on 6 March and according to Eskom utilities spokesperson, Andrew Etzinger, rotational load shedding is a strong possibility.
“We’ve asked our large industrial customers to cut back by 10 per cent but that appears not to be enough to bring the system back into balance,” says Etzinger.
“At this stage we are warning of a high likelihood of rotational load shedding.
“Owing to this, we ask that all our customers use electricity extremely sparingly today to hopefully avoid load shedding but at this stage it does look very likely,” says Etzinger.
The following areas in Randfontein will be affected by load shedding:
Dwarskloof, Elandsfontein, Elandsvlei, Groot Elandsvlei, Hillside, Randfontein East, Randfontein West, Tenacres, Venterspot, Witfontein East, Witfontein West.
Load shedding in these areas will take place from 6am to 10.30am on Monday 10 March, Friday 14 March, Wednesday 19 March, Monday 24March, Friday 27 March and Wednesday 2 April.
There are four different time schedules for load shedding in Westonaria.
The first is from 2pm to 6.30 pm on Saturday 8 March, Thursday 13 March, Tuesday 18 March, Saturday 22 March and Tuesday 27 March.
The areas affected areas for this schedule is Bekkersdal, Ghana Section, Skierlik Section and Uptown Section.
The second time schedule for Westonaria is from 6.30am to 10.30am on Monday 10 March, Friday 14 March, Wednesday 19 March, Monday 24 March, Friday 28 March and Wednesday 2 April.
The areas that will be affected by this time schedule is Bank, Goudryk, Cardoville, Kaalfontein, Kophou, Lawley Estates, Libanon, Modderfontein, Thabong, Vleikop, Elandsfontein and Wildebeeskuil.
The third load shedding timeslot for Westonaria is from 2pm to 6.30pm on Monday 10 March, Friday 14 March, Wednesday 19 March, Monday 24 March, Friday 28 March and Wednesday 2 April.
The affected areas are Hillshaven, Zuurbekom, Waterworks and the West Gardens Agricultural Holdings.
The final load shedding timeslot for Westonaria is from 6pm to 10.30pm on Monday 10 March, Friday 14 March, Wednesday 19 March, Monday 24 March, Friday 28 March, Wednesday 2 April.
The affected areas are East Driefontein and Belvedere.
Eskom is adamant that they are doing everything possible to avoid having to implement load shedding, saying that it will only be implemented as a last resort.
