Eskom’s Weekly Power Plan: From Stage 1 to Stage 4 Load-shedding

In a fresh announcement, Eskom outlines its load-shedding forecast for the week, cycling between stages 1 and 4. Let’s dive into the specifics.

Today’s Power Scenario (6 August):

• Morning to Afternoon: Stage 1 load-shedding will reign until 16:00.
• Into the Night: From 16:00, brace yourself for Stage 3, extending until the early hours of Monday (05:00).

Monday’s Outlook (7 August):

• Dawn: Stage 3 will persist until 05:00.
• Daytime: Eskom will switch gears to Stage 1, which will last till 16:00.
• Evening: Prepare for a bump to Stage 4, extending into midnight.

Tuesday (8 August) Predictions:

• Early Hours: Stage 4 continues until 05:00.
• Daytime: A reprieve with Stage 1 till 16:00.
• Night: Yet again, Stage 4 comes into play until midnight.

Wednesday’s Forecast (9 August):

• Predawn: Stage 4 remains until 05:00.
• Daylight Hours: Load-shedding will be suspended between 05:00 and 16:00.
• Evening: A switch to Stage 2, lasting till midnight.

What’s Affecting the Power? Currently, Eskom is grappling with 15,050MW of generating capacity due to breakdowns. An additional 4,434MW has been earmarked for scheduled maintenance. Over the past day, there’s been a shuffle in power units. While a unit each at Camden and Duvha power stations came back online, Medupi Power Station’s unit had to be sidelined for repairs.

Notably, delays in restoring two units each at Kendal and Tutuka are exacerbating capacity hitches. But Eskom’s teams aren’t resting; they’re hustling hard to resuscitate these units.

A Plea to the Public Eskom reiterated its call, urging folks to mitigate demand. “Switch off those non-essentials,” they emphasize. For those championing conservation, especially by turning off geysers and pool pumps between 17:00 and 21:00, Eskom extends its gratitude. “Your efforts genuinely ease strain on the power grid, enabling lesser load-shedding stages,” they note.