Energy5.12.2023

Eskom reduces load-shedding at short notice — here is the new timetable

Eskom has announced it downgraded load-shedding to Stage 2 at 09:00 on Tuesday, 5 December 2023.

The rotational power cuts will then increase to Stage 3 at 16:00. The power utility had previously planned to implement Stage 3 load-shedding between 05:00 and 16:00 and Stage 4 from 16:00 onwards.

“Due to improved generation capacity and adequate emergency reserves, load-shedding was reduced to Stage 2 at 09:00 today until 16:00,” Eskom said.

“Stage 3 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 16:00 on Wednesday. Then, Stage 4 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Thursday, followed by Stage 3 load-shedding until 16:00 on Friday.”

The power utility said it would publish an update if any significant changes occur.

Eskom announced the previous load-shedding schedule from Sunday, 3 December 2023, planning a rotation of Stage 3 load-shedding during the day and Stage 4 overnight.

It said the load-shedding pattern was necessary to manage its emergency reserves.

To this end, according to its evening peak statistics, the power utility was able to get by on Monday, 5 December 2023, without using any of its open-cycle gas turbines.

Eskom’s available generation capacity during the evening peak on Monday was 26,741MW, while total demand was only slightly higher at 27,294MW.

However, the load-shedding figure for the evening peak was 3,771MW as the power utility implements a buffer to protect the grid.

The load-shedding timetable from Tuesday, 5 December 2023, to Friday, 8 December, is provided in the table below.

Load-shedding from 5 December 2023
Date Day Daytime (05:00–16:00) Evening peak (16:00–05:00)
5 December Tuesday Stage 2 (from 09:00) Stage 3
6 December Wednesday Stage 3 Stage 4
7 December Thursday Stage 3
8 December Friday Stage 3 TBC

Now read: Bad news for Koeberg Power Station

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