Rolling blackouts escalated to stage 4 as power crisis deepens
Eskom will implement stage 4 load-shedding from lunchtime on Monday until Friday morning.
Additional breakdowns has seen the power utility moving the country from stage 2, which was implemented on Sunday.
The latest power cuts come amid warnings by energy experts that the national grid is deteriorating year by year.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says seven units have not returned to service on Monday.
“While Eskom regrets the escalation in load-shedding, it is necessary to ration the remaining emergency generation reserves, which have been utilised extensively this morning as we are not getting the reduction in demand as expected from the implementation of stage 2 load shedding.
“It was anticipated that an additional seven units would have returned to service by Monday, and this has not materialised. Further, a generating unit at Arnot power station tripped this morning, contributing to the shortages.”
The utility’s total breakdowns currently amount to 14 874MW while planned maintenance is 5 579MW of capacity.
The country will return to stage 2 on Saturday morning.
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