Stage 9 Load Shedding

Understanding Stage 9 Load Shedding in South Africa

As the lights go out across South Africa, many people are asking just what is stage 9 load shedding? The answer, in short, is that it is the worst possible scenario for power outages due to inadequate power supply by the national grid company, Eskom.

Load shedding is an action taken by Eskom as a last resort to prevent a total collapse of the power grid. When the demand for electricity exceeds the available supply, Eskom switches off power to certain areas on a planned and rotational basis, typically for two hours at a time.

Initially, load shedding was classified on a three-stage system. Stage 1 meant that up to 1,000 MW of electricity would be shed, while stage 2 involved up to 2,000 MW of electric power being cut off. Stage 3 was the highest level, reserved for when Eskom had to shed up to 4,000 MW. But with power supply situations becoming worse, Eskom may introduce a new system in 2023 with nine stages on it. Stage 9 is reserved for the most dire of power outages, with a cutting capacity of up to 9,000 MW.

That means that when South Africa enters stage 9 load shedding, it’s a significant crisis, where the national power grid is on the verge of total collapse. Stage 9 isn’t simply a measure designed to inconvenience people, but rather, it’s a warning of far worse things to come without a substantial change in the nation’s energy infrastructure.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when discussing stage 9 load shedding in South Africa:

• It is implemented when there is a severe shortage of electricity and a total collapse of the power grid is a real possibility.
• During stage 9 load shedding, up to 9,000 MW of electricity can be shed.
• Stage 9 is a sign of a greater crisis in the national power grid, and points to the need for a more reliable energy infrastructure.
• Eskom has designated certain groups, such as hospitals and clinics, as critical infrastructure which typically do not incur power cuts, even during stage 9 load shedding.
• Load shedding has adverse impacts on businesses, the economy, and people’s daily lives, such as causing traffic gridlocks, delaying police and ambulance responses to emergencies, and crippling small businesses.
• A shift in the way South Africa generates power is essential, with the country focusing more on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

South Africa has been dealing with load shedding and an energy crisis for years, and the introduction of stage 9 into the system highlights its severity. Eskom has stated that it expects rolling blackouts to continue “for the foreseeable future” and that load shedding may need to be implemented at any time, including during periods when there is already low demand for energy use.