Eskom has implemented Stage 6 load shedding overnight until further notice.
- Eskom extended load shedding to stage 6 overnight after two more generation units failed.
- The last time utilities implemented Stage 6 load shedding was in November 2023, which they blamed in part on the heatwave.
- South Africans have had to deal with reduced luggage most days since the end of the festive period.
- For more financial news, visit: News24 Business Top Page.
Eskom escalated load shedding to Stage 6 overnight for the first time in almost three months.
In a short note, the company said it had brought two power generation units back into service, but two more needed to be taken offline.
“This, coupled with the need to replenish water in the pumping dam for the coming week, required us to implement a Stage 6 load shedding from midnight until further notice,” the utility said.
Details such as how much power generation capacity actually went offline and which units were affected were not disclosed.
According to data tracked by Outliers, South Africans have experienced load relief for most days since January 2, when the festive period ended.
Eskom’s last stage 6 load shedding was in November 2023. This was partly due to the heat wave creating unprecedented levels of air conditioning power demand.
At the time, Eskom needed to replenish its emergency reserves, which had been depleted due to the breakdown of multiple plants over a two-week period.
Similarly, on Friday night, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said Stage 6 load shedding was justified to replenish dams that were “extremely low”. “The most important thing that got us to Stage 6 was to use the overnight hours to pump water out of the dam, which was critically low,” she told News24. Ta.
Eskom generates emergency power at three pumped storage facilities. one near Grabou in the Western Cape and two in KwaZulu-Natal (near Bergville and Ladysmith).
During weekends and other off-peak periods, Eskom must pump water from the bottom of the dam to the top. This ensures there is enough water to flow through the system through the generators to the bottom dam to generate electricity during peak hours.
Mr Mokwena said Eskom officials would review the situation on Saturday morning before issuing further updates.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his State of the Union address on Thursday night that the “worst” of the energy crisis is behind us. “…the end of offloading is finally within reach,” he said, which is in contrast to what we are experiencing in reality.
