Full recovery after load shedding could take 10 days

ESKOM says full recovery of its power system from the effects of the recent industrial action will take about 10 days.

All staff were set to return to work this morning, the utility announced yesterday afternoon.

Eskom reiterated that it might take longer for municipalities to restore power once load shedding is lifted.

“If customers experience outages for longer periods than announced‚ please contact your supplier (Eskom or the municipality) as this may be a localised power outage.”

Eskom provided tips to customers for load shedding:

● Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during load shedding;

● Ensure that the backup batteries in electrically-operated gates‚ garage doors and security systems are in good condition to last through load shedding;

● Switch off geysers during the day‚ and peak periods (7-10am and 6-9pm);

Load shedding schedules can be checked on Eskom’s website and on the websites of local municipalities. One can also call Eskom’s contact centre at 0860 037 566.

● Public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan said on Friday night‚ however‚ that a wage freeze was not an option and negotiations over salary increases would resume “with immediate effect”.