Escalating Power Crisis: Eskom Ramps Up Load Shedding to Stage 6

Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity provider, has escalated its load shedding strategy, intensifying the power outages this week due to acute generation capacity shortages and the urgent need to rebuild emergency reserves.

Increased Load Shedding Schedule: The revised load shedding plan now involves a shift from the previous Stage 4 and Stage 6 rotation to a more severe Stage 5 and Stage 6 pattern, extending until December 2.

Detailed Outage Timetable:

• Wednesday, November 29: Stage 6 from midnight to 5 am, followed by Stage 5 until 8 pm, returning to Stage 6 until midnight.
• Thursday, November 30: Same pattern as Wednesday.
• Friday, December 1: Continuation of Stage 5 and Stage 6 rotation.
• Saturday, December 2: Stage 6 from midnight to 5 am, with further stages and times to be announced.

Eskom has committed to closely monitoring the power system and will provide updates on any necessary changes to the load shedding schedule.

Underlying Challenges: The unprecedented move to Stage 6 load shedding is attributed to the depletion of emergency reserves, coupled with a surge in energy demand. Eskom’s reliance on these reserves has been critical in managing the ongoing power shortages.

Increased Demand and Heatwave Impact: Analysts highlight that the recent heatwave across South Africa has spiked electricity demand, exacerbating the already strained power grid.

Dependency on Diesel: Eskom’s current strategy includes heavy reliance on diesel-fueled open cycle gas turbines to counterbalance the significant capacity shortfall. This approach, while necessary, incurs substantial costs and is unsustainable in the long term.

Silver Lining with Kusile Unit: In a small but significant development, Eskom announced the synchronization of an additional unit at the Kusile power station, contributing 800MW to the grid. With all three units operational, Kusile now supplies a total of 2,400MW, offering some relief amidst the escalating power crisis.

Accessing Load Shedding Schedules

We are pleased to inform you that accessing load shedding schedules tailored to your specific area is now simplified, thanks to Loadshedding.com.

How to Access the Schedule:

1. Visit Load shedding Schedule.
2. Enter your suburb name to view the schedule for upcoming days.

If you’re uncertain about your suburb’s name, kindly refer to Eskom’s Loadshedding Site for assistance.

Device Compatibility: The Loadshedding.com platform is optimized for a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.

Pro-tip: Bookmark your suburb on the site for quicker access in the future