Eskom suspends load shedding on THURSDAY

Eskom said load shedding will be suspended on THURSDAY. Here is your updated schedule.

WILL LOAD SHEDDING BE SUSPENDED ON THURSDAY?

The power utility said due to the lower demand anticipated from tomorrow until the weekend, and an increase in available generation capacity, load shedding will be suspended from 05:00 on Thursday until further notice.

It furthermore said the anticipated demand for this evening’s peak is 26 109MW, with unplanned outages at 14 335MW and planned maintenance at 6 073MW of generating capacity. A total of 3 850MW of generating capacity is planned to return to service by Monday evening.

“Eskom will communicate as soon as there are any significant changes.”Eskom said.

#LoadsheddingUpdate

Wednesday, 20 March 2024:

Due to the lower demand anticipated from tomorrow until the weekend, and an increase in available generation capacity, loadshedding will be suspended from 05:00 on Thursday until further notice.

The anticipated demand for this…

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) March 20, 2024

HERE ARE YOUR UPDATED SCHEDULES:

FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE MAJOR METROS, LOAD-SHEDDING SCHEDULES ARE AVAILABLE BELOW:

• City of Johannesburg
• City of Ekurhuleni 
• City of Tshwane 
• City of Cape Town (PDF)
• Nelson Mandela Bay
• eThekwini
• Manguang
• Buffalo City

SIX TIPS TO HELP MITIGATE RISKS  

Here are six tips to mitigate against risks caused by load shedding:

• Make use of surge protection: Electric surges are one of the biggest causes of damage to equipment during a power outage. Installing a surge protection device can help minimise some damage in unforeseen situations. Have a surge protection device fitted to your electrical distribution board or at the power outlet to the electronic device.
• Ensure that your alarm system is working and the backup battery is fully functional to provide power to the system in the event of load shedding.
• Spare torch or headlamp: Keep a torch in your car if you arrive home at night during a power outage. Most smartphones have built-in torch or torch apps, which come in handy during unexpected power outages.
• Emergency contact information: Save emergency contact information on your phone, but also keep a paper copy safe and accessible. This should include contacts for emergency services such as the fire department, police, and/or medical services. Also, include the contact information of friends and/or family along with insurance information. 
• Charge your cell phone, laptop, and tablet: Be sure to charge them again as soon as possible after the power returns. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency phone charger (like a power bank) close by. This comes in handy during extended power outages. 
• Gas for cooking and lighting: Get a small LP gas bottle and lamp. It gives good quality lighting for a large area and can also be used for cooking and boiling water. It’s a good idea to keep hot water in a thermal flask so that you can make hot drinks. Also, consider preparing meals beforehand if you know when there’s going to be a scheduled blackout.

HIGHER LOAD SHEDDING OR FACE POWER STATION COLLAPSE

Meanwhile, in other news in a 600-page report commissioned by the National Treasury, critical issues affecting the performance of the country’s power stations have been highlighted. 

The report emphasises the urgent need to address the underlying issues at power stations, even if it means accepting a higher risk of load shedding. 

The experts warned that failure to break the negative cycle could lead to further deterioration of power plants and result in significant losses in generation capacity.

The delegation’s recommendations come in response to the pressing crisis facing the country’s energy sector.