By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Eskom says due to a shortage of generation capacity, stage 6 load shedding will be implemented from 16h00 this afternoon until 05h00 on Thursday.
Thereafter, Stage 5 load shedding will be implemented until 16h00 on Thursday.
This pattern will be repeated daily until further notice. Eskom said it will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur.
The City of Cape Town said that its residents would be spared from stage 6 load shedding where possible, with a reduction to stage 4 during the day, until 22h00.
Breakdowns are currently at 16,772MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance has reduced to 5,807MW.
Over the past 24 hours two generation units were returned to service at Kriel Power Station.
In the same period, a generating unit at Duvha Power Station was taken offline for repairs. The delays in returning a unit to service at Camden, Kendal, Lethabo, Medupi and Tutuka power stations have contributed to the capacity constraints.
Similarly, the increase in demand after the long weekend and the re-opening of the schools has put additional strain on the power generation system.
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Meanwhile Eskom has started work to restore power and repair damage after seven pylons collapsed in the City of Tshwane on Sunday night.
Eskom is assisting the city and has provided three monopoles which are already on site, said Daphne Mokwena, the utility’s interim spokesperson.
The monopoles differ from the pylons in that the base is solid concrete, with the bottom being thicker than the top, said Mokwena. The foundation on which they are mounted is also made of concrete.
With pylons, the tower members (near the bottom) are targeted by thieves. When these are stolen, then it is easier for pylons to collapse when there is wind, Mokwena explained.
The monopoles being provided by Eskom are locally manufactured. They are 23m tall, Mokwena said.
The city will provide nine other pylons, which will be 20m tall.
Replacing the pylons as they were, would take longer, which is also why the monopoles are being considered. The area of the new power lines will cover 3km, as opposed to the 1km initially thought. It is not yet known how much repairing the damage would cost.
A preliminary schedule indicated that the repairs could be done by Thursday latest – but this is not yet confirmed.