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Eskom has not implemented rotational loadshedding since 05:00 on Friday, 08 November 2019. The system continues to remain extremely constrained and vulnerable, with generating plant performing at very low levels of reliability. As unplanned breakdowns remain marginally below 9 500MW at 06:00, there is no loadshedding expected today but the probability of loadshedding remains if there is any unexpected shift on the system. Good progress has been made over the weekend to replenish diesel for our open cycle gas turbines and to increase water levels at the pumped storage schemes.

The Emergency Response Command Centre (ERCC) continues to monitor the system on the hour. After concluding the power system review at 05:30 this morning, Eskom can confirm that while the objective is not to implement loadshedding, the generating plant performance continues to be unpredictable. Eskom wishes to remind customers that any unexpected shift, such as additional unplanned breakdowns or the unavailability of diesel for open cycle gas turbines or water levels at pumped storage schemes, could result in loadshedding at short notice.

As communicated in the Summer Plan on 4 of September 2019, unplanned breakdowns above 9 500 MW require the use of emergency resources at a high rate and they increase the probability of loadshedding if the supply constraints are sustained for a long duration.

Eskom’s technical teams are working tirelessly to return units from planned and unplanned maintenance and to replenish emergency reserves.

A concerted collective effort to reduce demand can further help to lessen the level of loadshedding. And as such, we strongly urge customers to assist by helping to reduce demand by using electricity sparingly.

• Set air-conditioners’ average temperature at 23ºC
• Switch off your geysers over peak periods
• Use the cold water tap rather than using the geyser every time
• Set your swimming pool pump cycle to run twice a day, three hours at a time for optimal energy use.
• At the end of the day, turn off computers, copiers, printers and fax machines at the switch. Avoid stand-by or sleep mode.

Customers are advised to check their loadshedding schedules on the Eskom or municipal websites.

We remind customers that loadshedding is conducted rotationally as a measure of last resort to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout.

We will continue to keep South Africans informed about the status of the electricity system.

Issued by Eskom