The_Right_Honourable_Brit
High Tory
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- Mar 6, 2004
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Eskom forecasts an electricity deficit of more than 4 000MW on Tuesday and almost as much on Wednesday, which means phase 3 load shedding is virtually a sure thing.
During stage 3 load shedding demand is reduced by up to 4 000MW and many consumers a hit twice on one day.
The forecast, contained in Eskom’s System Status Bulletin published twice a week, shows a low probability of load shedding on Saturday. The probability increases from Sunday when a deficit of 587MW is expected, indicating possible stage 1 load shedding and on Monday when demand is expected to outstrip supply by 2 138MW, indicate possible stage 2 load shedding.
The forecast does not go beyond Wednesday.
Source: Eskom
Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe said the so-called maintenance festival planned to start over this weekend will continue through the week until May 4, the end of a second long weekend. The supply deficit will be as a result of units being taken down for maintenance.
He said the utility has decided to take advantage of the generally lower demand over long weekends to try and address some of the maintenance back-log that has seen unplanned outages increase to more than 10 000MW at times, leaving very little space for planned maintenance.
On Thursday April 23 the unplanned outages were well reduced to 5 285MW and planned maintenance increased to 5 885MW.
Phasiwe said Eskom is trying to do as much maintenance as possible before the start of winter, when peak demand increases from the current 32 000MW to 36 000MW. It also hopes to do pro-active maintenance, as opposed to just fixing immediate problems.
He said the Eskom board has confirmed that maintenance is not negotiable and it will continue throughout winter.
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/huge-electricity-supply-shortage-next-week/