Eskom has announced that Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented between 9pm this evening (Thursday, January 30) and 6am tomorrow morning (Friday, January 31).

The embattled power utility has lead to implemented power cuts as a result of system constraints and the depletion of emergency resources.

“We have been using pumped storage schemes and open cycle gas turbines extensively over the past in order to supplement capacity, and we need to replenish these overnight,” the public entity said in a statement. “We unreservedly apologise to South Africans for the negative impact this may have on them.”

Eskom has also released a list of steps South Africans can follow to ease the strain on the grid:

– Set airconditioners’ average temperature to 23

– Switch off your geysers over peak periods

– Use the cold water tap rather than using the geyser every time

– Set your swimming pool pump to run twice a day, three hours at a time for optimal energy use

– At the end of the day, turn off computers, copiers, printers and fax machines at the switch. Avoid stand-by or sleep mode

You can check the load shedding schedule here.

Picture: Pixabay

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Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.