National
Power cuts to bolster supply─── 15:13 Tue, 27 Jan 2015
Johannesburg - Eskom implemented stage two rolling power cuts on Tuesday to help bolster power supply for the rest of the week, acting CEO Dan Marokane said.
"We moved to stage two in order to manage our reserves at our pumped storage schemes and gas turbines so that we can better manage the rest of the week," Marokane said in a statement.
Eskom began with stage one rotational power cuts on Tuesday morning, but later escalated to stage two. This would continue until 10pm.
Stage one allows for up to 1000MW of the national load to be cut, stage two for up to 2000MW, and stage three for up to 4000MW.
Eskom said the intensified power cuts were necessary because of a shortage of generation capacity.
"At our pumped storage schemes (which use water to generate electricity), the dam levels are low because we were not able to pump the water back to full capacity over the weekend," it said on Tuesday afternoon.
This was because Eskom had to use its pumped storage schemes over the weekend to meet demand.
"Ordinarily, the weekends are used to pump our dam levels to maximum capacity in preparation for the forecasted increased demand in electricity during the week."
Earlier, Eskom spokesman Andrew Etzinger warned there was a good chance of power cuts.
"The grid is exceptionally tight. There is a medium to high chance of load shedding today [Tuesday] if we do see further technical challenges developing."
Shortly after 9am the power utility tweeted: "Eskom will implement load shedding stage one from 10.30am today. It is likely to continue until 10pm. We will give updates throughout the day."
Etzinger said 25 percent of Eskom's generator capacity was out because of technical problems.
"We won't go to stage three unless it is absolutely necessary."
Sapa
Eskom began with stage one rotational power cuts on Tuesday morning, but later escalated to stage two. This would continue until 10pm.
Stage one allows for up to 1000MW of the national load to be cut, stage two for up to 2000MW, and stage three for up to 4000MW.
Eskom said the intensified power cuts were necessary because of a shortage of generation capacity.
"At our pumped storage schemes (which use water to generate electricity), the dam levels are low because we were not able to pump the water back to full capacity over the weekend," it said on Tuesday afternoon.
This was because Eskom had to use its pumped storage schemes over the weekend to meet demand.
"Ordinarily, the weekends are used to pump our dam levels to maximum capacity in preparation for the forecasted increased demand in electricity during the week."
Earlier, Eskom spokesman Andrew Etzinger warned there was a good chance of power cuts.
"The grid is exceptionally tight. There is a medium to high chance of load shedding today [Tuesday] if we do see further technical challenges developing."
Shortly after 9am the power utility tweeted: "Eskom will implement load shedding stage one from 10.30am today. It is likely to continue until 10pm. We will give updates throughout the day."
Etzinger said 25 percent of Eskom's generator capacity was out because of technical problems.
"We won't go to stage three unless it is absolutely necessary."
Sapa
The Eskom load shedding schedule for the Free State (which you can view by clicking on the link below) takes precedence, if there are discrepancies between this schedule and the one on the Eskom load shedding website.
STAGE 1
Customers will only be affected every second day.
Customers will only be affected every second day.
STAGE 2
Customers will be affected once every day.
Customers will be affected once every day.
STAGE 3
Customers will be affected twice every day.
Customers will be affected twice every day.
If you're unsure which group you're in in Mangaung, click here to view the groups.
Note: Stage 3 for Manguang means the ENTIRE city's power will be down.
EDIT 27/1/15 - Updated with new info:
Kimberley/Sol Plaatje's Load shedding schedule
In case of stage 3 load shedding the entire Sol Plaatje municipality's electricity will be shut down.
Mondays: 04:00 - 06:30 | 12:00 - 14:30 | 20:00 - 22:30
Tuesdays: 02:00 - 04:30 | 10:00 - 10:30 | 18:00 - 20:30
Wednesdays:00:00 - 02:30 | 08:00 - 10:30 | 16:00 - 18:30
Thursdays: 06:00 - 08:30 | 14:00 - 16:30 | 22:00 - 00:00
Fridays: 04:00 - 06:30 | 12:00 - 14:30 | 20:00 - 22:30
Saturdays: 02:00 - 04:30 | 10:00 - 10:30 | 18:00 - 20:30
Sundays: 00:00 - 02:30 | 08:00 - 10:30 | 16:00 - 18:30
Saturdays: 02:00 - 04:30 | 10:00 - 10:30 | 18:00 - 20:30
Sundays: 00:00 - 02:30 | 08:00 - 10:30 | 16:00 - 18:30
