The loadshedding schedule will kick off at Stages 6 on Monday, 20 February 2023. Here’s what we know about what you can expect this week.
UPDATE: On Sunday evening, Eskom revealed in a statement that due to the breakdowns of eight generation units, “Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented continuously until further notice.”
“Since Sunday afternoon, a generating unit each at Arnot, Hendrina, Lethabo and Majuba, as well as two units at Camden Power Station have suffered breakdowns and taken offline for repairs,” the power utility noted.
Eskom revealed that a further two generating units at the Lethabo power station were shut down due to coal constraints “as the New Vaal Mine that is supplying the station has been unable to deliver the expected amount of coal during the past week because of the heavy rains.”
The national electricity supplier warned that the loadshedding schedule may be hiked up to higher stages since the three running units at Lethabo “are operating at minimum capacity and are at risk of shutdown should the coal supply constraints not be resolved.”
“Given the high number of breakdowns, there is a possibility of further changes on the stages of loadshedding at short notice,” the power utility warned.
As of Monday, 20 February 2022, breakdowns amounted to:
- 21 243MW (unplanned) – up 1 858MW from Sunday, 19 February 2023
- 3 566MW (planned maintenance) – down 1 443MW from Sunday, 19 February 2023
See the updated loadshedding schedule below:
Loadshedding schedule for week of Monday, 20 February 2023, confirmed
Following a weekend of rotational outages sustained at Stages 4, the embattled power utility confirmed that Stage 6 loadshedding would be in effect from 20:00 on Sunday, 19 February 2023 until 05:00 on Monday.
Thereafter, loadshedding will be kept at Stage 4 until further notice, with a high probability of further changes being made at short notice “due to the high amount of breakdowns.”
In a statement, Eskom confirmed that on Sunday, 19 February 2023, “a generating unit each at Camden, Duvha and Lethabo power stations suffered breakdowns and were taken offline for repairs.”
“The return to service of two generating units at Drakensberg and a unit each at Kendal and Tutuka power stations are delayed,” the power utility noted.
In positive news, two generating units at the Lethabo power station were returned to service during this period.
At the time of reporting, breakdowns amounted to:
- 19 385MW (unplanned) – up 3 558MW from Monday, 13 February 2023
- 5 009MW (planned maintenance) – down 1 443MW from Monday, 13 February 2023
It remains unclear, at this juncture, what the schedule will look like from Tuesday, 21 February 2023.
Here is the official loadshedding schedule:
Monday, 20 February 2023
- 00:00 – 05:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
- 05:00 – 00:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Subject to change
- 05:00 – 00:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Subject to change
- 05:00 – 00:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
Thursday, 23 February 2023
Subject to change
- 05:00 – 00:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
Friday, 24 February 2023
Subject to change
- 05:00 – 00:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
Saturday, 25 February 2023
Subject to change
- 05:00 – 00:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
Sunday, 26 February 2023
Subject to change
- 05:00 – 00:00: Stage 6 loadshedding
Readers from these metros can check the latest loadshedding schedule below: