Eskom begins with loadshedding on national level, but GMM also faces extra power cuts

SECUNDA – Eskom began with its stage 1 rotational loadshedding today, 18 November, in order to “preserve emergency resources”.

A nationwide alert was sent out today for citizens to keep checking the loadshedding schedules on the website of Eskom or the local municipality, and to plan on the assumption that loadshedding will take place.

The electricity supplier appealed to residents and businesses to use electricity sparingly in this period by switching off geysers and all non-essential lighting and electrical appliances.

The loadshedding comes after a sharp fall in coal stockpiles at five power stations.

The schedule for stage 1 loadshedding indicates that Secunda and outlying areas will be affected from 9pm to 11.30 pm tonight, from 5am to 7.30am on Tuesday (20 November), from 11am to 1.30pm on Wednesday (21 November), from 7pm to 9.30pm on Thursday (22 November) and from 3am to 5.30 am on Saturday (24 November).

This loadshedding is being implemented nationwide.

Govan Mbeki Municipality is however, also facing second loadshedding schedule due to the municipality’s non-payment of their debt to Eskom.

Eskom is set to enforce electricity cuts in the Govan Mbeki Municipality as from 26 November. The towns that will mainly be affected are Secunda, Bethal, eMbalenhle and eMzinoni.

The only way to stop these local outages from happening is if the municipality pays its overdue debt.

Govan Mbeki Municipality has been identified as one of eight municipalities in the country who has defaulted in their payments to Eskom.