*Load-shedding off for today and tomorrow

There will be no load-shedding today or tomorrow Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger told Grocott's Mail at 3.15pm on Monday 24 November.

While the load-shedding schedule issued at the weekend for the period 22 November to 20 December remains valid, it will only apply during high-risk periods, Etzinger said.
"The system is still constrained. We don't anticipate load-shedding today or tomorrow.
"However, as the week progresses the risk increases."
Etzinger said the continued availability of diesel was one factor affecting supply. Another was overcast weather predicted for large areas of the country later in the week.
"That will put pressure on the national grid," Etzinger said.

Essential services were not affected by a power cut in Grahamstown on Friday 21 November; however continued rolling blackouts could lead to water rationing in Grahamstown, officials warn.

Dozens of disappointed diners, a stage full of puzzled children and crowds at city takeaways were some of the consequences of Friday's power cut .
Saints Bistro manager Warren Bouwer said his was among a number of restaurants forced to turn diners away as the power went out in the city shortly around 6.30pm.
"We can never really prepare for load-shedding because the times on the schedules are not consistent with the outages," Bouwer said.
Haricot's employee Cheryl Fischer said while the business had gas, it was still difficult.
"We are looking to buy a generator, but load-shedding is very inconvenient for business," said Fischer.
A wine auction in aid of Hospice, an art exhibition opening and a school play were among the social events affected by the power cut.
Maureen De Jager of the Rhodes Fine Art department said around 100 people were at the Albany Museum, where a student exhibition was due to open at 6.30 pm – the exact time load-shedding kicked in.
"It affected us very badly because by the time the electricity came back, people had lost interest in the exhibition," De Jager said.
Around 150 Oatlands Preparatory School pupils positioned on the Rhodes Theatre stage ready for curtain-up at 6.30pm were left puzzled as the theatre was plunged into darkness.
Teachers kept up their spirits by leading them into song, as friends and families in the stalls heard the news that the theatre's generator wasn't working.
Administrative assistant at the school Cathy Smith said they, like most, had been taken by surprise by the cut.
While a load-shedding schedule has been in place, none of the predicted cuts have been implemented. The school's annual play, Fantastic Mr Fox, will be performed at 6pm on Wednesday 26 November.
Eskom said in a media statement issued on Sunday 23 November that the risk of load shedding for today and tomorrow is medium to low. This is owing to steady progress made in building reserves to limit the risk of load shedding next week.
Ntombekhaya Mafumbatha, of Eskom's media desk, told Grocott's Mail this morning that weather conditions had led to the cuts.
"The power system has experienced an increase in demand due to the weather conditions and an increase in load losses as a result of multiple tripping of generating units at the Majuba and Matimba power stations," Mafumbatha said.
"Eskom has lost a total of 1 700 MW of generating power."
In a media release Eskom called on all electricity users to urgently switch off geysers, pool pumps and all non essential appliances in order to allow the power system to recover.
"Eskom is now following the protocol in terms of its emergency procedures in order to secure the power system," Mafumbatha said earlier today.

Friday's outage did not affect Settlers Hospital.

Personal Assistant to the Hospital Manager at Settlers hospital Ayanda Stuurman told Grocott's Mail that the power outageon Friday did not affect the hospital.

"We have generators so the load shedding did not cause any unforseen circumstances for us." Stuurman said on Monday 24 November.

The manager was unavailable for comment.

Area Operations Manager for Amatola Water Chris Nair warned on Monday 24 November that load-shedding would have a cumulative effect on water levels in Grahamstown's supply dams.

"Rolling blackouts will definitely translate into controlled outages," Nair told Grocott's Mail on Monday 24 November. "Because of the nature of the city's water systems, this could affect the eastern side more than the western side of the town.

Making the problem more acute, Nair said, was the fact that rainfall patterns meant water would be a worry for months to come.

Although Amatola Water has more than doubled the treatment capacity at the James Kleynhans water treatment works since October 2013, and almost doubled the supply from Glen Melville Dam, increased demand means this is no longer spare capacity.

"As new developments receive water supplies, demand in the city has gone up, not evened out," Nair said.

Load-shedding schedule as issued by Eskom on 21 November 2014

Sat, 22 Nov
06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 23 Nov
06:00 – 08:30
Mon, 24 Nov
06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 25 Nov
12:00 – 14:30
Wed, 26 Nov
12:00 – 14:30
Thu, 27 Nov
18:00 – 20:30
Fri, 28 Nov
18:00 – 20:30
Sat, 29 Nov
06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 30 Nov
06:00 – 08:30
Mon, 01 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 02 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Wed, 03 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Thu, 04 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Fri, 05 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Sat, 06 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 07 Dec
–
Mon, 08 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 09 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Wed, 10 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Thu, 11 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Fri, 12 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Sat, 13 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 14 Dec
–
Mon, 15 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 16 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Wed, 17 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Thu, 18 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Fri, 19 Dec
06:00 – 08:30
Sat, 20 Dec
06:00 – 08:30

Updates available on:
http://loadshedding.eskom.co.za/

Type in Grahamstown in the quick search box, top right.

* This story has been updated since it was posted with quotes from Settlers Hospital and Chris Nair of Amatola Water.