Energy experts warn that loadshedding is likely to return in the coming week as demand ramps up due to the colder weather.
Eskom has stated that they will limit power cuts to stage 2 but has ‘not ruled out the possibility of higher stages’, as reported by Daily Investor.
Also read: Eskom clears the air on loadshedding rumours
Eskom’s latest Weekly System Status Report has also indicated that demand has increased nationwide, as during winter, the electricity demand in South Africa is approximately 6 000 Megawatts (MW) higher than during summer.
While this is still below the levels that were recorded in 2023, contracted energy demand has risen above the utility’s forecast for 2024.
This occurrence is likely to occur throughout the country as winter progresses.
While Eskom had an ‘improved performance’, the utility did not increase the electricity supply to the extent where it could say that loadshedding would not occur during the winter.
Dan Marokane, Eskom CEO, has said that Eskom’s performance has improved significantly, with ‘breakdowns down nearly 10%’, when compared with last year and a 19% decrease in unit trips.
However, Marokane has added that the current unplanned losses of 14 200 MW were still ‘unsustainable and likely to result in loadshedding in winter’. Eskom has planned to contain this to stage 2.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa also warned South Africans of the possibility that loadshedding will return, as Eskom will experience setbacks in the future that can’t be avoided.
Earlier this year, in April, Ramokgopa said that Eskom is bound to suffer significant setbacks, based on the nature of how it operates and how big of an organisation it is.
‘We are still working on the reliability of these machines, and that’s why you can’t speak with great confidence that loadshedding is behind us. That would be a false claim that can’t be substantiated,’ said Ramokgopa.
Also read:
South Africa’s power improves but winter loadshedding risk remains
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