Phase 6 load shedding will be implemented throughout the weekend, day and night.
Eskom announced a short while ago that phase 6 from Friday at 05:00 must be implemented throughout the weekend in an attempt to replenish its emergency reserves.
This week’s cold weather forced the power supplier to make use of its emergency reserves and the emergency reserves are now exhausted.
Eskom says it expected an increase in demand for electricity, especially due to Monday and Tuesday’s cold weather. However, the demand for electricity exceeded this expectation.
It also did not help Eskom’s cause that some generating units gave up on Sunday.
One generating unit each at Grootvlei, Hendrina, Lethabo, Tutuka, two generating units at Arnot and Matla and three generating units at the Kriel power station have broken down since Sunday.
In addition, there is currently a delay in the repair of a generating unit at the Kendal power station and two generating units at the Tutuka power station.
There are currently 3,090 MW unavailable due to planned maintenance. A total of 17,679 MW is also unavailable due to unplanned outages.
Eskom says a high load shedding phase over the weekend will hopefully enable it to introduce a lower load shedding phase next week.
