By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Eskom has announced stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 on Sunday until 05:00 on Monday. Thereafter various stages of load shedding ranging from stage 1 to stage 4 will be implemented up until Wednesday.
Stage 1 load shedding will then kick in from 05:00 on Monday (01 May) until 16:00, with stage 3 load shedding then being introduced until 05:00 on Tuesday.
Despite the lower stages of load shedding for the rest of the long weekend, stage 4 load shedding will be implemented on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Eskom said that breakdowns currently stand at 17,702MW of generating capacity, with over 3,700MW also out for planned maintenance.
In the last 24 hours, a unit each at Matla and Medupi power stations were brought back to service.
A generating unit each at Grootvlei and Lethabo power stations were take offline for repairs over the same time period.
Eskom said that the delays in returning a service at Arnot, Duvha, Kriel and Lethabo power stations were exacerbating current capacity constraints.
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 Cabinet has called on South Africans to use electricity sparingly as part of the Demand Side Management (DSM) initiatives.
This as Cabinet called on the nation to lower electricity usage, especially during periods of high energy consumption, typically from 5pm to 9pm, as part of Demand Side Management initiatives.
“By lowering our consumption we can create a win-win situation that both reduces pressure on the power grid and saves households money without affecting business productivity or quality of life,” said Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
The Minister was addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria.
“Cabinet calls on everyone to assist in saving electricity by using it sparingly while Eskom works with Independent Power Producers to bring new capacity online.”
Demand Side Management measures are a global phenomenon and have proved effective in reducing peak demand and promoting energy conservation.
“We have demonstrated this during the 2010 World Cup. The aim is that collectively we must save electricity by switching off non-essential appliances, using gas to cook, installing energy efficient light bulbs and switching off appliances like geysers when not in use,” Ntshavheni said.
According to Ntshavheni, the target is to save about 1000 MW of power which is equivalent to one stage of load shedding.
“Cabinet notes that a number of large customers are already participating in the Eskom’s Demand Side initiatives, and calls on all stakeholders from business, industry and residential customers to heed the call and join the Demand Side Management campaign.”