Johannesburg – Eskom on Sunday announced that “due to a continued improvement in available generation capacity” the power utility was suspending load-shedding at midnight.
In a power alert, Eskom said: “Stage 4 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 until midnight. Thereafter loadshedding will be suspended until 16:00 on Monday”.
Eskom added: “On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday load-shedding will be reduced to Stage 3 from 16:00 until midnight.
“This is due to a continued improvement in available generation capacity as a result of three units that were previously on outage being returned to service.”
Eskom said it will publish another update should any significant changes occur.
“Breakdowns are currently at 16 115MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 3 766MW,” said Eskom.
“Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit each at Arnot and Kendal power stations were returned to service.
“In the same period, a generation unit each at Kriel and Hendrina power stations were taken out of service due to breakdowns.”
The power utility said further delays in returning to service a generating unit at Grootvlei, Hendrina, Majuba and Tutuka power stations were “contributing to the current capacity constraints”.
Eskom said its teams were working around the clock to return these generating units to service over the next few days.
“We thank those South Africans who heed the call to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, including switching off geysers from 17:00 to 21:00,” Eskom said.
“This is helping to alleviate the pressure on the power system and contributes to lower stages of load-shedding.”
