Eskom Announces New Load Shedding Schedule Amid Generation Capacity Shortage

South Africans are once again grappling with the inconvenience of load shedding as the national power utility, Eskom, reintroduces scheduled power outages to manage a significant shortage in generation capacity. After a brief respite on Saturday, Stage 1 load shedding recommenced on Sunday from 4 pm, extending until 5 am on Monday.

The announcement made by Eskom's spokesperson Daphne Mokwena also outlined plans for Stage 2 load shedding beginning at 5 am on Monday, which would later escalate to Stage 3 until the early hours of Tuesday. The parastatal has indicated that these measures are a direct response to unplanned outages that have reached a staggering 17,270MW of generating capacity, exacerbated by the delay in returning Koeberg Unit 1 to service.

Planned maintenance is also contributing to the shortages with 5,265MW of capacity currently out of service. However, there is some relief in sight as Eskom is expecting approximately 5,300MW of generating capacity to be reinstated over the week. In an effort to expedite the process, Eskom teams are diligently working to bring additional units back online.

In light of the ongoing power system demands, with the evening peak expected to hit 25,529MW, Eskom is imploring residents to conserve electricity where possible. Simple actions such as turning off geysers and swimming pool pumps during the critical window of 5 pm to 9 pm can help reduce demand and consequently lessen the severity of load shedding stages.

Moreover, Eskom has recently made strides in renewable energy solutions by officially opening the Hex Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) site at Worcester in the Western Cape. As the first of its kind on the African continent, the BESS can power a small town for up to five hours and marks the completion of the first project under Eskom's BESS initiative, which commenced in July 2022. Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom's Group Executive for Generation, heralded the Hex project as an illustration of the innovative and sustainable interventions Eskom is pursuing to address the energy shortages plaguing the nation.

Load shedding remains a persistent challenge for many South Africans, affecting daily life and economic activity. However, developments such as the Hex BESS suggest a strategic shift towards diversifying energy resources, which may offer a glimmer of hope in the electricity crisis. Eskom will continue monitoring the power system and provide updates on the load shedding schedule as required, keeping consumers informed on the latest developments.