The national power system was expected to be tight over the evening peaks this week, despite mild temperatures being forecast, State-owned power utility Eskom said on Monday, calling on consumers to pull together to help beat the peak.

In its latest biweekly system status bulletin, the utility requested all electricity customers to save at least 10% of their electricity use and to sustain these savings.

Eskom said that Monday evening’s peak demand was forecast at 32 494 MW, to be met by available capacity, including open-cycle gas turbines, of 34 300 MW. Current planned maintenance stood at 3 500 MW and unplanned outages at 5 400 MW.

Peak demand for the rest of the week was forecast at 32 342 MW on Tuesday with available capacity of 33 229 MW, and 32 467 MW on Wednesday to be met by available capacity of 33 529 MW.

The capacity to meet Thursday’s peak demand stood at 33 529 MW, with demand forecast at 32 408 MW, while Friday’s peak demand was forecast at 31 396 MW, to be met by available capacity of 33 149 MW.

Saturday and Sunday would have available capacity of 33 521 MW and 33 901 MW respectively, with demand forecast at 31 162 MW and 31 244 MW.

The available capacity for each of the days included the use of open-cycle gas turbines.