Load shedding REDUCED to Stage 2 on Sunday, Stage 3 to follow

Eskom has announced that stage 4 load shedding has been reduced to stage 2 on Sunday morning, 22 May 2022, from 08:00. This will continue until 16:00, after which stage 3 of the rolling blackouts will kick in.

“Loadshedding has been reduced to Stage 2 from 08:00 until 16:00 this afternoon. Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 22:00 tonight. Since yesterday afternoon a generating unit each at the Arnot, Hendrina, Tutuka and two at the Lethabo Power Station
were returned to service. A generating unit each at the Duvha and Camden power stations were taken offline for repairs,” said Eskom spokesperson Sikonathu Mantshantsha.

A loss in generation capacity had forced the power utility to ramp the load shedding to stage 4 on Saturday. While this was expected to continue for the rest of the weekend, an improvement in its system spells some good news for frustrated South Africans.

ANY LOAD SHEDDING THIS COMING WEEK?

For now, Eskom hasn’t given any indication as to whether customers can expect any more load shedding for the coming week. But it has reminded citizens to continue using electricity sparingly by switching off non-essential items, so as to avoid having to implement load shedding.

The parastatal says it has 4 009MW on planned maintenance, while another 14 515MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.

“Eskom will continue to closely monitor the system, adjust and communicate any changes as may be necessary. We appeal to all South Africans to help limit the impact of loadshedding by reducing the usage of electricity and to switch off all non-essential items. Eskom would like to remind the public that loadshedding is implemented only as a last resort to protect the national grid. We therefore urge all South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly especially between 05:00 – 09:00 in the mornings and 16:00 – 22:00 in the evenings”

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha