Eskom implements Stage 2 load shedding on Tuesday 1 September

Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented between 12:00 and 22:00 on Tuesday 1 September, as Eskom reports severe constraints on the national power grid.

South Africans hoping to start the new month with fewer disruptions — set against the backdrop of a five-month lockdown which restricted movement and debilitated economic growth — have been left in the lurch by embattled national power utility, Eskom. The reopening of economic activities under Level 2 lockdown has been marred by Eskom’s inability to meet the country’s power demands.

The latest bout of load shedding comes at the most inopportune time for vulnerable South Africans, as bitterly cold weather batters most regions at the tail-end of winter. Additionally, the cost of load shedding — estimated to range in the billions of rands as a result of unserved energy — has further eroded opportunity for post-pandemic economic growth.

Stage 2 load shedding on Tuesday 1 September

On Tuesday morning, Eskom released a statement announcing the return of disruptive rotational cuts. According to the power supplier, an increase in demand coupled with dire plant breakdowns had pushed generation capacity to the brink. Eskom said:

“Ten generation units at seven power stations suffered breakdowns in the last 48 hours. A generator each broke down at Arnot, Medupi, Lethabo, Matla power stations while two units each at Majuba, Camden and Tutuka power stations also broke down.

Unplanned breakdowns stand at 11 665MW of capacity, adding to the 4 558MW currently out on planned maintenance.”

Eskom warned that, should the situation deteriorate further, load shedding stages would be heightened to mitigate a national blackout. Eskom has urged South Africans to reduce their electricity usage with immediate effect.

Illegal connections and load reduction

Tuesday’s load shedding comes amid Eskom’s highly-contentious load reduction programme, whereby areas — particularly in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga — are cut from the grid for a few hours at a time. Eskom has defended the load reduction scheme, arguing that areas affected are guilty of overloading the network with illegal connections.

Residents have, however, complained of Eskom’s blanket approach, arguing that while some residents or communities may seek to bypass the utility, load reduction punished entire areas for transgressions of a few.

Eskom initially projected only three days of ‘winter load shedding’; South Africa has since accumulated almost two weeks of powerlessness since June.