Load shedding back at stage 3 this week – here’s the new schedule
Power utility Eskom has announced that stage 3 stage load shedding will be back this week, starting on Monday (27 March).
Stage 1 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 05:00 on Monday.
Thereafter, Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00 on Monday followed by Stage 3 load shedding until 05:00 on Tuesday.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Stage 1 load shedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00, and Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00.
Eskom said it would publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur.
The full schedule is below:
Sunday, 26 March
Monday, 27 March
- Stage 1: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 2: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 3: 16h00 to 00h00
Tuesday, 28 March
- Stage 3: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 1: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 2: 16h00 to 00h00
Wednesday, 29 March
- Stage 2: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 1: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 2: 16h00 to 00h00
Despite load shedding being reduced over the past week to lower levels, power cuts are expected to worsen as South Africa moves into the Winter months.
Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that, based on the evidence in front of him, he does not anticipate significantly higher stages of load-shedding during winter this year – but there is no guarantee considering the grid’s fragility.
Many other experts, including former Eskom executive Robbie van Heerden and Intellidex capital markets head Peter Attard Montalto, also warned of intensified load-shedding in winter.
Van Heerden said South Africa would most likely go to stage 8 load-shedding during winter and that power cuts would continue for many years.
Montalto said South Africans should brace themselves for consistent stage 7 load-shedding from July 2023.
Many people are also alarmed by a new load-shedding framework that prepares for higher stages of power cuts.
Vally Padayachee from the NRS Association of South Africa said that Eskom is reviewing the load-shedding framework to prepare for load-shedding to exceed stage 8 in the future.
However, this framework is a proactive measure for Eskom and municipalities to be ready to respond should it be necessary.
Schedules
For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Read: Load shedding has crushed South Africa