Check correct Eskom shedding schedule before letting off steam

ESKOM has urged consumers to carefully check the proper schedules before making loadshedding arrangements.

Over the weekend, many people complained that the parastatal was not adhering to the published schedules.

However, Eskom spokesman Andrew Etzinger yesterday noted there are different loadshedding stages. Stage 1 allows for up to 1 000MW of the national load to be shed, stage 2 for up to 2 000MW and stage 3 for up to 4 000MW.

Load shedding will be implemented in most instances in two-hour blocks, with an additional 30 minutes for switching between blocks, between 5am and 9.30pm, meaning residents could be without power for two-and-ahalf hours.

“While I can’t comment as I don’t have the individual complaints, people should be aware that stage 1 is light shedding and stage 2 is a heavier schedule that involves more areas and longer times.

“Also, perhaps the local authorities are adjusting our schedules. As far as we are concerned, Eskom’s national command centre is adhering strictly to the published ones,” Etzinger said.

The grid was still very tight, he added, and Eskom would not be running on full capacity until next week.

However, load shedding was not planned until Wednesday.

“We have worked over the weekend to build up more power reserves to minimise disruptions for residents and businesses today,” he said.

Eskom started load shedding eight days ago because of technical problems at various power stations. One of the main causes of power shortages was the collapse of a silo at Majuba power station in Mpumalanga earlier this month.