14 Jan 2021 | 12:38 PM UTC
South Africa: Utility provider Eskom announces four days of Stage-2 load shedding nationwide starting midday Jan. 14
South African utility provider Eskom to implement load shedding nationwide from midday Jan. 14 to late Jan. 17
Event
South Africa's electricity utility provider Eskom announced Jan. 14 that it would engage in Stage-2 load shedding nationwide from 1200 Jan. 14 to 2300 Jan. 17. According to company officials, the load shedding is due to unplanned "loss of generation capacity."
Customers in Cape Town receiving electricity supplies from the City of Cape Town will be at Stage-1 load shedding until midnight; this arrangement could persist until Jan. 17.
Temporary commercial and communications disruptions are possible while the load shedding is taking place; cellular and mobile services could be affected. Traffic disruptions and longer driving times are possible during these periods due to malfunctioning traffic signals. Trains may also experience delays if outages impact signaling devices or overhead wires. Power outages could also result in the temporary unavailability of essential services such as ATMs and filling stations. There is an increased security threat during power outages. Blackouts could adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences; opportunistic criminal activity could increase during electricity outages.
Context
Load shedding requires switching off parts of South Africa's electric grid in a planned and controlled manner due to insufficient capacity or to avoid a countrywide blackout.
Stage-1 load shedding: Allows for up to 1,000MW of electricity to be removed from the power grid, leading to power supply cuts in the impacted area three times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or three times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
Stage-2 load shedding: Allows for up to 2,000MW of electricity to be removed from the power grid, leading to power supply cuts in the impacted area six times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or six times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
Additional stages of load shedding (Stage 3-4) are available to Eskom to avoid a countrywide blackout, should further generation capacity be lost.
Advice
Plan for electricity disruptions through at least Jan. 17. Conserve batteries and restrict cellphone use to emergencies in case of an extended power outage. For safety reasons, monitor generators while they are operating due to potential fires. Unplug appliances and electronic equipment to protect against surge damage when power resumes.
