Eskom downgraded the load shedding from stage 2 to stage 1 on Saturday, but said the suspension of blackouts on Sunday and Tuesday would no longer apply.
Phase 1 load shedding is in progress
On Friday, the struggling power utility said it would cut loads on Sunday between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Phase 1 then applies until 4pm on Monday. Phase 2 was supposed to start by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, when another load shedding delay was originally planned to take place.
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Eskom did not immediately give a reason for the change in the load shedding schedule.
“Eskom will provide an update as soon as there are significant changes,” he said.
Power plant performance improvement
In rare good news from Eskom’s Megawatt Park on Thursday, the electricity supplier said there had been a significant improvement in the performance of its coal-fired power plants over the past week.
For the first time since 8 May 2022, Eskom’s six coal-fired power plants can achieve an energy availability factor (EAF) of 70%.
“These three power stations, Camden, Duvha and Matla, have been on a sustained upward trend as a result of the reduction of plant breakdowns and the return to service of some units that were in unplanned breakdowns,” Eskom said.
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“Lethabo, Marimba and Medupi have performed well and remain among Eskom’s top three performing stations.”
He added that the Lethabo Power Plant was performing well despite the “wet coal incident” the previous week. This is caused by flooding after heavy rains.