Load shedding commences
Various areas in Pretoria will experience load shedding until the weekend as Eskom has announced an emergency rotational load shedding plan, after coal stock was dampened by the rain.
The Tshwane Metro council has already started switching off power after Eskom announced the implementation of load shedding throughout the country as from Thursday. The load shedding is due to wet coal stock caused by the seven day rain and showers, the Tshwane metro said.
The two-hourly load shed began in Atteridgeville and Saulsville when power supply was cut off at 08:30. “Power in that area is estimated to be back on around midday. The objective of the load shedding is to help ease the demand for power,” said Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba.
According to Eskom, the load shedding might continue into the weekend, however, Tshwane metro stated the power cuts might last for a week. “Municipalities have been advised to await further instruction on the schedule of areas likely to experience the load shedding. We will keep updating our customers of further developments,” said Bokaba.
The following areas were expected to be affected only between 12:00 and 15:00 today, but we are receiving reports that various areas are still left without power:
· Eldoraigne
· Raslouw
· Wolmer
· Mamelodi
· Wingate
· Kloofsig
· Willows
· Brakfontein
Earlier today, various areas experienced load shedding from 08:00 and 12:00. This includes
· Waterkloof
· Pumulani
· Koedoespoort
· Tunnel
· Mayville
· Highlands
· Soshanguve
· Montana
· Rosslyn
· Pretoria North
· Kosmosdal
· Olievenhoutsbosch
· Wonderboom
· Lynnwood
· Villieria
· Watloo
· Atteridgeville
· Saulsville
· Skinner 4
Eskom calls on all residents to urgently switch off geysers, pool pumps and all non-essential appliances throughout the day to reduce the impact of the rotational load shedding. “Should we receive the necessary savings from all our customers and the situation improves, we will terminate load shedding earlier,” Eskom said, stating that key industrial customers are asked to reduce their load by 10%.
The Tshwane metro council said that power failures may be reported all hours on 012 358 9999, option 3, or via SMS by sending account number or meter number to 082 612 0333. Customers are cautioned to treat all electrical connections as ‘live’ during the load shedding period.
