Eskom Shocks Nation by Suspending Load Shedding

Eskom Shocks Nation by Suspending Load Shedding

Eskom made a surprise announcement last Saturday, suspending load shedding between 11h00 and 17h00, with plans to revert back to Stage 3 load shedding at 17h00. According to Eskom, the suspension was due to a decrease in electricity demand. Eskom had previously warned that load shedding would continue during the Easter holiday due to high demand, but holidaymakers are believed to have contributed to the temporary decrease in demand.

Eskom announced a further suspension of load shedding on Sunday (9 April) and Monday (10 April), between 05h00 and 16h00. The company, which has struggled to provide a stable energy supply for most of this year, has received government support via the adoption of independent power producers. With a focus on renewable energy from solar and wind power, up to 9,600 MW of wind power, 3,940 MW of solar PV, and 1,231 MW of energy storage will be implemented between 2024 and 2030. Procurement initiatives have begun, with the goal of meeting the renewable targets and connecting to the national grid as soon as feasible.

Here is a breakdown of the revised load shedding schedule:

Sunday, 9 April

• Stage 3: 00h00 to 05h00
• Suspended: 05h00 to 16h00
• Stage 3: 16h00 to 00h00

Monday, 10 April

• Stage 3: 00h00 to 05h00
• Suspended: 05h00 to 16h00
• Stage 3: 16h00 to 00h00

South Africa is hoping that increased use of renewable energy will reduce the reliance on Eskom’s crumbling infrastructure, while meeting the growing demand for energy locally. Eskom aims to implement these changes while keeping the needs of the country’s population at the forefront of any strategic decisions.