Bad news South Africa: Power utility Eskom has confirmed that load shedding will be escalated to Stage 4 after it suffered delays in returning units back to service.
Stage 2 load shedding was implemented at 16:00 on Wednesday, 6 March – as previously communicated – and will be followed by Stage 4 at 20:00.
Stage 4 load shedding will continue until 05:00 on Thursday, 7 March after which it will revert to Stage 2 until 20:00.
This pattern will repeat on Friday, 8 March.
Eskom confirmed it would communicate should any significant changes occur.
The power utility pleaded with the public to switch off non-essential appliances to reduce the demand, especially between 17:00 and 21:00.
ESKOM LOAD SHEDDING SCHEDULE
Thursday, 7 March
Stage 2: 05:00 – 20:00
Stage 4: 20:00 – 23:59
Friday, 8 March
Stage 4: 00:00 – 05:00
Saturday, 24 February 2024: Loadshedding will be reduced to Stage 2 from 05:00 on Sunday until 16:00. Thereafter, Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Monday. This is as a result of the anticipated recovery of emergency…
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) February 24, 2024
WHO IS ESKOM?
Eskom is a South African electricity public utility. It was established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission.
The utility is the largest electricity producer in Africa and was among the top utilities in the world in terms of generation capacity and sales.
It is the largest of South Africa’s state-owned enterprises.
WHICH POWER STATIONS DO ESKOM OPERATE?
Eskom operates several notable power stations, including Matimba Power Station and Medupi Power Station in Lephalale, Kusile Power Station in Witbank, Kendal Power Station in Mpumalanga, and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape, the only nuclear power plant in Africa.