Eskom is battling to keep the lights on in South Africa and for the second time this week, the electricity provider has turned to loadshedding to maintain stability on the power grid.
#POWERALERT1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) May 10, 2022
With evening peak supply constraints persisting, Stage 2 loadshedding will again be implemented from 17:00 – 22:00 tonight, with the possibility of higher stages should any breakdowns occur during the day pic.twitter.com/b2ExoCzP1u
Loadshedding on Tuesday – Higher stages possible
In a statement, the state-owned electricity provider confirmed rotational power outages would kick off from 17:00 until 22:00 on Tuesday, as a means to contain increased demand at high peak periods.
Much like it was the case on Monday, loadshedding will return at stage 2 tonight. But, Eskom warns that there is a “possibility of higher stages should any further generation unit breakdowns occur before then.”
“A generation unit each at the Kusile and Arnot power stations are expected to return to service this afternoon,” the statement read.
The power utility has not, as yet, issued a forecast on loadshedding for this week but continued breakdowns hint at a winter season marred by rotational power outages.
“Since yesterday (Monday) evening, a unit each at Arnot, Grootvlei and Matla power stations either tripped or were taken offline for repairs. At the same time two units were returned to service; one each at Kriel and Grootvlei power stations,” Eskom revealed.
Currently, the national electricity supplier has 3 049MW of electricity out on planned maintenance, while more than 15 700MW is unavailable due to breakdowns.
In Cape Town, the City’s customers will remain on stage 1 loadshedding. Learn how the City of Cape Town’s loadshedding schedule works right here.
