- With continuous loadshedding lasting for its longest spell in quite some in recent weeks, this past weekend offered a slight reprieve.
- It returns this week, however, as the country gets ready to end November and move into December.
- Eskom says it will switch between Stage 1 and Stage 2 for the foreseeable future, but that could change at any time.
Where two things were certain in life – death and taxes – a third needs to be added for South Africans in the form of loadshedding. In recent weeks the country suffered its longest spell of continuous loadshedding, but this past weekend offered a brief reprieve.
We say brief as Eskom confirmed yesterday afternoon that rolling blackouts would return this week, as the country gets ready to transition from November to December.
The power utility noted that Stage 1 would be implemented from 5:00 in the morning until 16:00 in the afternoon, where it will be increased to Stage 2 from 16:00 until 5:00 the following morning. This switching between levels will be in place for the foreseeable future, Eskom confirmed, although this could change as a moment’s notice, as we have seen in past weeks.
The reason for this is that the power utility is still struggling to cope with breakdowns at its power stations across the country, which coupled with the dwindling diesel reserves, means that higher stages of loadshedding are more than likely on the cards for the country.
At the time of writing, Eskom says it has 5 032MW of power on planned maintenance, while a staggering 16 390MW is unavailable due to the aforementioned breakdowns.
Either way, many South Africans will be bracing themselves for a tough festive period, as the cost of living and prospect of further blackouts are both on the rise.
In order to stay up-to-date with changes in the loadshedding status, as well as check the times for your area, we advise downloading the EskomSePush app.
Loadshedding will be suspended at midnight, then resume with Stage 1 at 05:00 – 16:00 whereafter
Stage 2 loadshedding will be then implemented from 16:00 throughout the night. pic.twitter.com/1P2yqfbfzy— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) November 27, 2022
[Image – Photo by Christian Dubovan on Unsplash]
