File picture: Armand Hough, African News Agency (ANA)
AFTER 12 consecutive days where load shedding was suspended during the day, Eskom has said that until further notice, Stage 1 power cuts will be implemented from 5am to 4pm and Stage 3 from 4pm until midnight throughout the week.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokoena said: “Rotational power cuts will be halted once again during the day while Stage 3 will remain in the evenings.”
Mokoena said as of Sunday, breakdowns stood at 16,524MW, while a further 4,376MW was off-line due to planned maintenance, leaving Eskom’s energy availability factor at 56% of installed capacity.
The energy availability factor has not been below 55% since the week beginning May 8.
Mokoena said at the weekend a generating unit each at Hendrina, Kriel and Medupi power stations had been returned to service.
“In the same period, a generation unit each at Arnot and Medupi power stations were taken out of service due to breakdowns.”
She said the delays in returning generating units at Grootvlei, Hendrina and Tutuka power stations to service contributed to the current capacity constraints. Eskom teams were working around the clock to return these units to service in the next few days.