The system remains extremely constrained and vulnerable, with generating plant performing at very low levels of reliability. While unplanned breakdowns are marginally below 10 000MW as at 22h00, the probability of loadshedding remains for tomorrow and the rest of the week, but will only be implemented if absolutely necessary. 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, and after concluding its meeting at 22:00 tonight 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.

On a positive note, Kusile 3 was synchronised for the first time at 12:00 on Sunday, providing 300MW to the grid. While synchronisation only provides intermittent power, this is a positive step towards achieving commercial operation and increasing capacity.

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.

Eskom will provide an update tomorrow.

Issued by Eskom