Eskom sent a wave of irritation reverberating across the internet when the power utility announced the return of loadshedding.
UPDATE: Eskom confirms a labour strike is the reason behind Stage 4 loadshedding from Friday, 24 June 2022 – 10:49
In a statement released on Friday morning, the state-owned electricity provider explained that increasing rotational power outages to Stage 4 was a precautionary measure “to conserve emergency generation reserves.”
Consequently, South Africans will have to brace for Stage 4 loadshedding from 11:00 until midnight on Friday, 24 June 2022.
“It is necessary to bolster emergency generation reserves to react to unforeseen circumstances, as well as to replenish emergency reserves to prepare for the week ahead. This would help fill the generation deficit while dealing with generating units that may trip amidst the disturbances and compensate for the inability to return generating units timeously to service,” Eskom explained.
Here is the full statement from the state-owned electricity provider:
#POWERALERT1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) June 24, 2022
To conserve emergency generation reserves, loadshedding will be implemented to Stage 4 from
11:00 am until midnight tonight. pic.twitter.com/IHv6sLVuqt
UPDATE: Further breakdowns force Eskom to adjust the Stage 2 loadshedding schedule – 09:18
In a statement, Eskom announced that Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 10:00 until midnight, on Wednesday, 22 June 2022. Thereafter, rolling blackouts will be sustained at Stage 2 from 05:00 until midnight on Thursday, 23 June 2022, and throughout the rest of the week.
“Due to the breakdown of four generation units this morning contributing to the capacity constraints, Eskom regrets to announce that Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 10:00 until midnight. Starting tomorrow (Thursday, 23 June 2022) until Sunday (27, June 2022), Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until midnight,” the state-owned electricity supplier noted.
Eskom further warned that there is “a likelihood that the stage of loadshedding might need to be increased during the evening peaks.”
Here is Eskom’s full statement:
#POWERALERT1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) June 22, 2022
Stage 2 loadshedding will regretfully be implemented between 10:00 and midnight tonight. From Thursday until Sunday Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until midnight. pic.twitter.com/gkGGwb5M58
Loadshedding returns at Stage 2 on Monday, 20 June 2022
In a statement, the power utility regretfully informed the nation of “the implementation of Stage 2 loadshedding starting at 17:00 – 22:00 this evening.”
“Due to the continued shortage of generation capacity, loadshedding will be implemented every evening at the same time until Thursday [23, June 2022] night,” the atatement read.
The state-owned entity vowed to closely monitor the state of its generation and make adjustments where necessary. While higher stages of loadshedding were not imminent, Eskom did plead with South Africans “to reduce the usage of electricity and to switch off all non-essential items.”
“Eskom cautions the public that as the shortage of generation capacity persists, the system will continue to be constrained with an elevated risk of loadshedding over the coming weeks,” the power utility warned.
At the time this article was published, Eskom had 5 232MW of power not feeding into the grid due to planned maintenance, and another 14 202MW offline as a consequence of unplanned breakdowns at major power plants.
“We would like to remind the public that loadshedding is implemented only as a last resort to protect the national grid. We therefore urge all South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly especially between 05:00 – 09:00 in the mornings and 16:00 – 22:00 in the evenings,” the statement concluded.
Read the full statement below:
#PowerAlert2
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) June 20, 2022
Stage 2 loadshedding will regretfully be implemented between 17:00 and 22:00 tonight and every evening until Thursday@SABCNews @eNCA @Newzroom405 @ewnreporter @News24 @IOL pic.twitter.com/NekFUuYsso
