Eskom Ramps Up Load Shedding to Stage 4 From Wednesday Until Friday

Eskom has announced that stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 12pm on Wednesday until 5am on Friday after which stage 2 load shedding will continue until 5am on Saturday.

The power utility says the ramping up of the status of load shedding is due to further shortage of generation capacity.

Eskom’s Sikonathi Mantshantsha says over the past 24 hours a unit each at Medupi, Kusile and Matla power stations tripped while a unit each at Lethabo and Arnot power stations were forced to shut down.

“This constrained the power system further requiring extensive use of emergency reserves and therefore, hampering the recovery of these reserves. Some generating units have returned to service and we anticipate another two units to return to service during the day. In addition, Koeberg Unit 1 is expected to return to service today and begin ramping up to full output within 48 hours.”

Mantshantsha says load shedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the power system regardless of the stage of load shedding.

“The implementation of Stage 4 loadshedding is therefore, no cause for alarm as the power system remains to be effectively controlled.

Mantshantsha has urged the public to reduce the usage of electricity in order to help Eskom through the constraints.