Several eThekwini areas to face 5-hour power outage on Friday

Residents residing in Avoca, Sea Cow Lake, Duffs Road, Springfield, Riverhorse Valley, and KwaMashu B, C, D, E, and F sections are advised to prepare for a planned power outage scheduled for 3 May, lasting from 10:00 to approximately 15:00.

The interruption in electricity supply is crucial for eThekwini Electricity to address a damaged 11kV circuit breaker at Avoca substation, necessitating the temporary shutdown of half of the 11kV switchboard.

While this scheduled outage may inconvenience residents, it underscores ongoing efforts to ensure a reliable power supply for all.

eThekwini braces for power outage despite recent load shedding relief

This planned power outage occurs amidst South Africa’s recent relief from load shedding. Eskom recently celebrated a remarkable achievement: over 21 consecutive days without load shedding, a feat not witnessed in nearly two years. This success is attributed to sustained generation capacity, sufficient emergency reserves, and decreased electricity demand from the grid.

However, challenges persist despite this milestone. Unplanned power outages at power stations total 14 264MW, with an additional 5370MW unavailable due to planned maintenance.

Eskom acknowledges the public’s efforts in conserving electricity.

“We would like to express our gratitude to those who heed the call to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, including switching off geysers and pool pumps from 5 pm to 9 pm or during load limiting. These efforts lower demand and alleviate pressure on the power system,” said Eskom.

Eskom anticipates stage 2 load shedding in winter

Yet, the respite from load shedding may be temporary. Eskom anticipates that load shedding will likely remain within Stage 2 during the upcoming winter season.

Dan Marokane, Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, explains that this forecast is based on the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) reaching 14 000MW during winter, down from 15 000MW last year. While the reduction seems modest, it plays a vital role in managing the intensity of power outages.

Marokane emphasises Eskom’s commitment to reducing losses at power stations, aiming to further decrease the UCLF by 1.7GW over the winter period. He urges South Africans to contribute by using electricity efficiently and sparingly.

Eskom plans to launch an energy-saving campaign in May, encouraging collective action to mitigate the risk of load shedding.

“Our ability to beat load shedding this winter still depends on our collective collaboration and to this extent, we’ll be launching the energy saving campaign this May asking all of us to play our part in this regard,” Marokane said.