UPDATE: Eskom is sending South Africa to Stage 6 from 16:00 this evening, until 22:00. Thereafter, the country will be on Stage 4 until 00:00. It moves to Stage 2 from 0:00 to 05:00, and then back again. In other words, expect Stage 6 load shedding in the evenings from 16:00 to 22:00. This will continue on Wednesday. We expect the utility will update on progress by tomorrow evening.
Due to unlawful industrial action, Stage 6 loadshedding will regretfully be implemented at 16:00 until 22:00 this evening. Stage 4 will then continue to be implemented until midnight. pic.twitter.com/BEJZLMcjr3
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) June 28, 2022
ORIGINAL STORY: Okay, now, don’t panic. There’s a chance that South Africa might head to Stage 6 load shedding this evening. It’s not confirmed yet, but it’s… actually, it’s pretty likely. That’s the word according to Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter, speaking at an update of generation capacity at the utility today.
The reason for the probable jump from Stage 4 to Stage 6 is an increased loss in generation capacity overnight.
Skipping to Stage 6
Eskom lost ten generating units overnight. This means that unplanned losses (via BusinessTech) currently total 14,204MW. Losses thanks to strike action are an additional 3,651MW. The chances of Stage 6 load shedding, then, are high but not yet confirmed. (But let’s be honest, they’re probably confirmed).
The state-owned energy supplier reckons that it can bring back missing power over the next two days. But it rather relies, according to Eskom, on the wildcat strike being overcome. If more staff head back to work, the utility says, load shedding will dip to more ‘acceptable’ levels.
Stage 6 load shedding involves shedding three times a day, but the period the power’s out is extended. Outages last for 4.5 hours instead of 2.5 hours. Hold onto your butts, folks, and keep an eye on social media for updates throughout today.