"Eskom Relaxes Load-Shedding: New Timetable and Positive Developments"

Eskom, South Africa's state-owned electricity utility, has announced a welcomed reduction in load-shedding due to improvements in generation capacity and performance. This update comes as a relief to many South Africans who have been grappling with frequent power cuts. Here's what you need to know about the new load-shedding timetable and the positive developments behind it.

Reduced Load-Shedding Levels: Starting from noon on Monday, 18 September 2023, Eskom will reduce the severity of load-shedding. Instead of stage 2 load-shedding, the utility will implement stage 1 power cuts from 12:00 to 16:00. This means a slightly more stable power supply during these hours.

Temporary Stage 3 Load-Shedding: From 16:00 until 05:00 on Tuesday morning, Eskom will temporarily implement stage 3 load-shedding. While an increase from stage 1, this is an improvement from the previously planned stage 4 for the same period.

Daytime vs. Evening Load-Shedding: Following this temporary increase, load-shedding will continue as previously communicated. This means alternating between stage 2 during the daytime hours (05:00—16:00) and stage 4 during the evening and early morning hours (16:00—05:00).

Ongoing Updates: Eskom remains committed to keeping the public informed about any significant changes. So, South Africans can expect further updates should there be any alterations to the load-shedding schedule.

Weekend Relief and Positive Developments: The temporary relief in load-shedding follows a significant milestone where Eskom was able to suspend power outages for at least 23 hours over the past weekend. One key contributor to this improvement is the return of the 800MW Kusile Unit 4, which had been offline for planned maintenance.

Anticipated Returns of Units: Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has shared encouraging news regarding the anticipated return of Units 1, 2, and 3 at Kusile Power Station. These units were taken offline due to a flue-gas desulphurisation chimney collapse in October 2022. Their expected return between October and November 2023 will add a significant 2,100MW to the grid, equivalent to two stages of load-shedding relief.

Load-Shedding Schedule Summary:

While load-shedding remains a challenge for South Africans, these developments bring a glimmer of hope. The reduction in load-shedding levels and the anticipated return of additional power units provide reasons for cautious optimism. Eskom continues to work toward a more stable power supply, and the nation eagerly awaits further progress on this front