Update 09:00 10/01/2015: No further loadshedding expected this weekend.
Eskom says it has no plans to roll out more loadshedding this weekend.
However officials maintain the situation is still unpredictable and have called for reduced power use.
Yesterday, the power utility rolled out stage one load shedding across the country.
The power utility was forced to implement load shedding several times last year due to limited generating capacity, problems at some power stations and technical issues.
However the blackouts came to an early end due to Eskom’s ability to recover generation capacity faster than anticipated.
This week’s unstable grid has been blamed on ageing generators which went offline yesterday causing a 5 percent loss of total capacity.
Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe says consumers will be given enough notice if load shedding is implemented this weekend.
“We’re operating a very unreliable power system and sometimes we have situations where initially there was a good system then out of the blue there are a number of units going out, however, we haven’t planned for load shedding over the weekend.”
Eskom can’t cope without additional power stations
The parastatal said it doubled its maintenance over the festive season but its efforts have fallen short of ruling out loadshedding this year.
Although it has since stabilised, rolling blackouts are expected in the near future.
Update 17:50 09/01/2015: Stage 1 loadshedding discontinued for today.
Update 17:58 09/01/2015: The power grid is under increasing strain. Peak usage is expected at between 18:30 and 20:00 tonight. Rolling blackouts in Kimberley may be introduces at any time with little or no notice.
11:00 09/01/2015: Eskom is currently in Stage 1 Loadshedding. At this time Sol Plaatje Municipality is only shedding geysers. Please shut down all non critical electrical equipment to help avoid rolling blackouts.
If stage 2 loadshedding is introduces and rolling blackouts are implemented the following schedule will be used.
Kimberley Load Shedding Schedules: https://www.kimberley.org.za/load-shedding-schedule-kimberley-sol-plaatje-municipality/
Internet Updates on https://www.kimberley.org.za/tag/kimberley-service-delivery/
Facebook Updates on https://www.facebook.com/groups/KimberleyInfrastructure/
