- Loadshedding won’t be implemented on Wednesday evening after all.
- Eskom anticipates that demand will be low and as such there is no need for rolling powercuts.
- With that having been said, the utility has said the generation fleet is still fairly constrained and loadshedding would be implemented again on Thursday.
This afternoon Eskom delivered some good news, building off of the good news it delivered on Tuesday. Once again, loadshedding won’t be implemented from 16:00 this afternoon as previously communicated.
According to the utility’s forecasts, demand for this evening is expected to be 27 214MW and as such there is no need to institute rolling blackouts. However, the utility also says that the generation fleet is slightly constrained.
“Whilst the generation fleet is currently fairly constrained, emergency reserves are adequate and as a result, loadshedding will remain suspended until 16:00 on Thursday,” Eskom wrote on Wednesday afternoon.
“Stage 1 loadshedding will resume on Thursday from 16:00 until 05:00 on Friday. Thereafter, loadshedding will be suspended until 16:00. The anticipated evening peak demand is 27 214MW. Eskom appeals to the members of the public to reduce demand at 17:00 to 21:00 by switching off geysers and pool pumps to ease pressure on the power system and continue suspending loadsheding. Eskom will communicate should any significant changes occur,” the utility added.
Last weekend, Eskom was actually generating a surplus of energy, something that has been unheard of for over a year at this point. With loadshedding having now been suspended since 22:00 on Thursday last week, this is the longest period without powercuts since the energy crisis started with the damage at Kusile.
Whether Eskom can keep the lights on for a full week – granted it is just one day and some change before it reaches that mark – remains to be seen but it’s tough not to feel hopeful what with all this electricity we now have access to.
