Eskom has confirmed that there is no expectation of loadshedding today. The power utility took to Twitter, as it usually does, to provide an update today following rotational Stage 2 and 3 loadshedding at the weekend which was suspended at 21:00 yesterday.
As with any statement by Eskom that there is no expectation of loadshedding, it should be understood that this can change at any time, especially as the national grid remains constrained.
“While the generating system has improved, the possibility of loadshedding during the week remains,” Eskom explains in the update pasted below.
#POWERALERT 1
Date: 17 February 2020Loadshedding not expected today, but possibility of loadshedding during the week remains @SABCNewsOnline @IOL @eNCA @ewnupdates @TimesLIVE @SowetanLIVE pic.twitter.com/oktmKM2Gx0
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) February 17, 2020
As such the power utility is asking citizens and businesses to be sparing with their power usage this week, and look to make smarter choices wherever possible.
Whether people in the country will follow this lead is always up for debate, but as it has in recent days, Eskom has reminded South Africans that the current state of loadshedding is anticipated to continue for the next 18 months.
As for how the utility plans to ensure more reliable power generation and delivery in that time, remains to be seen.
With President Cyril Ramaphosa also proposing that municipalities can utilise other means of power generation in last week’s State of the Nation Address, it looks like the local national grid is in for a shake up.
[Image – Photo by Leon Seibert on Unsplash]
