Eskom has announced a new schedule for Stage 2 load shedding, followed by Stage 4 load shedding from 16:00 until 05:00 on Monday. The pattern will be repeated daily until further notice. Eskom will publish an update if any significant changes occur. The utility suspended load shedding at 01:35 am as pumped storage dam levels were replenished for the week ahead. Diesel levels at OCGT power stations have improved but remain low.
Shifts between Stages 2 and 4 are likely to be welcomed by South Africans who have recently faced periods of Stage 6 as winter electricity demand skyrocketed. Eskom is confident that the high levels of load shedding experienced last week will not stick around and anticipates energy demand to decline soon. The Sunday Times reports that Eskom expects demand to start reducing as temperatures start to increase according to the weather forecast. Load shedding schedules are available for major metros, including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, eThekwini, Manguang, and Buffalo City. Smartphone users can download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented and the times the area will be off.
