Rolling Blackouts: Monday 11 May 2015 [Stage 2]

[Sneeky]

I'm convinced they just turn the diesel turbines off and hope for the best.
There's 2084 MW right there

 

[Sneeky]

Eskom CE Tshediso Matona says the cost of running the OCGTs must be weighed against the cost to the economy of blackouts. "Do you stop spending R1bn-R2bn on the OCGTs and put the economy through the pain of daily load shedding? We have decided inside Eskom that the cost of load shedding will be greater than R2bn," says Matona. Moreover, the utility does have a budget for the expensive stations. "If we didn’t have a budget for them, we wouldn’t be running them."

However, for the year ending March, Eskom had budgeted R7bn, which ran out in January, says finance director Tsholofelo Molefe. That prompted public enterprises minister Lynne Brown to tell government incorrectly in December that the utility would run out of cash in mid-January. Just as Matona raises the prospect of switching off the turbines, senior Eskom officials have repeatedly raised the possibility of pulling the plug in the past year. But can Eskom really afford to?

Eskom is damned if it runs them, as it has been since August last year. It is also damned if it pulls the plug on the turbines. That’s a classic case of being stuck between a rock and a hard place — much harder.

Says Matona: "We have virtually used up our budget for diesel. We can no longer re-direct any further funds to diesel as doing so would compromise other core activities."

Keeping the turbines spinning also gives it room to do regular maintenance on its coal plants. "We acknowledge that keeping the lights on at any cost is not sustainable but Eskom is not in the business of switching off the lights," says Matona.

more
http://www.financialmail.co.za/cove...ycle-turbines-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place

Probably last financial years commentary, but the situation is far from improved now, certainly worse.

 

[cavedog]

I'm convinced they just turn the diesel turbines off and hope for the best.
There's 2084 MW right there

Well what if they are currently running them to keep the lights on? Imagine those fail then it means stage 4

 

[MickeyD]

happy days!!

 

[Sneeky]

Well what if they are currently running them to keep the lights on? Imagine those fail then it means stage 4

I hear ye, they spent R10bn rand on diesel last financial year with a budget of R2bn, that was revised up to R7bn in December.

At just over R1bn per month I'm not left wondering why they want sky high price increases.

Proudly brought to you by the ANC.

 

[ghostR]

I hear ye, they spent R10bn rand on diesel last financial year with a budget of R2bn, that was revised up to R7bn in December.

At just over R1bn per month I'm not left wondering why they want sky high price increases.

Proudly brought to you by the ANC.

Lets just hope the majority realize this is directly caused by the ANC being in power.

 

[AthenianOwl]

It wont be long before stage 4 strikes. Pray that thoses gas turbines dont fail in the middle of winter.

 

[Sneeky]

Best I get some food ready, 2000 it's back to the dark ages again, and expect the same tomorrow same time.

 

[BigEars]

Lets just hope the majority realize this is directly caused by the ANC being in power.

I don't rant much anymore

My sig says it all.

 

[AthenianOwl]

Woohoo, power came back just noe.

 

[BigEars]

Eskoms take on what we should put up with:

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/05/11/less-electricity---make-it-part-of-your-lifestyle-eskom

 

[pratlou]

It just kicked now in my area yet schedule clearly state's no loadshedding in my area today. :-o using woodfire to finish up cooking.

 

[Dan C]

It just kicked now in my area yet schedule clearly state's no loadshedding in my area today. :-o using woodfire to finish up cooking.

Don't burn down your house !

 

[BigEars]

Nice being a whitey here amongst the loyal fodder.

We are off from 20H00 till 22H00 @ stage 2. 5 Minutes away from heating up my food and eating it nice and warm..
And having a light or two and a internet connection and no darkness in my place...

Ah, to have the ability to plan

 

[BigEars]

Off. I can almost set my watch by this

 

[daveza]

We are scheduled for 10pm.

Eskom says Stage 2 will continue till around 10.30 - so would we go down for half an hour ?

 

[MickeyD]

We are scheduled for 10pm.

Eskom says Stage 2 will continue till around 10.30 - so would we go down for half an hour ?

Doubt it.

 

[BigEars]

And silence. Fodder has gone home. I will sleep well tonight after I have finished checking Forums and eating and being able to see.

Going overseas now to see what the rest of the world is up to
UPS+GOOD BATTTERY+GOOD MATCHED CHARGER+ KNOWN LOAD= happiness

See you Guys tomorrow.

 

[bwana]

happy days!!

View attachment 214930

Roland was wrong.

 

[pratlou]

Don't burn down your house !

I won't. Finished 15 minutes ago.