The power system is currently constrained but stable, and the risk of load shedding is low for this week and the rest of the festive season.
The power system is currently constrained but stable, and the risk of load shedding is low for this week and the rest of the festive season.
However, due to the underlying shortage of additional generating capacity, the power system remains vulnerable – meaning that any extra load or faults in the system may necessitate the need to implement rolling blackouts.
Khulu Phasiwe at the Eskom media desk told Grocott’s Mail this morning, December 16, that if there are any additional problems they would have to load shed. “We have lost four power generators already, so there risk is there but we’ll have to deal with that if and when it happens,” he said.
In its 305th update on the state of the power system, Eskom said the system is expected to be constrained for the foreseeable future, meaning that the gap between supply and demand is too narrow for comfort.
With many industries winding down their business for the festive season, coupled with the return to service of some of our power generating units and building up of our emergency reserves, Eskom is cautiously confident that it will not have to implement load shedding during this period.
Eskom calls on all South Africans to pull together over the next few months and use electricity sparingly at all times. When preparing to go on holidays, remember to:
• Unplug all appliances such as computers, coffee machines, television sets and entertainment consoles.
• Fix leaky taps; allowing water, especially hot water, to drip down the drain wastes both water and electricity.
• Replace conventional outdoor lights with motion-sensor lamps for security; they use less electricity because they only activate when the sensor is triggered.
• Switch to solar powered garden lights; they use the free energy of the sun and give your electricity a rest.
• Make sure the back-up batteries on your electric fencing and intruder detection system are in optimal working order; replace them if necessary.
• Set your pool pump to operate for four hours per day – it is enough to keep the pool clean while it is not being used.
• And, make sure the pool pump is set to run outside 5pm to 9pm, the period of peak demand for electricity in South Africa.
