Load Shedding

10 August, 2008

Following ESKOM’s announcement that one unit in Koeberg had been switched off in recent weeks, pressure on the electricity network has increased.  ‘This has necessitated eThekwini Electricity to take the unfortunate decision to put all its citizens on alert for load shedding,’ said Sandile Maphumulo, The Head of eThekwini Electricity.

ESKOM has warned that with the national barometer regularly sitting on orange, which means that consumption is at a critical level and the supplier is under pressure, we are likely to experience load-shedding during this period. ‘These are really unfortunate circumstances and we are urging all consumers to go the extra mile towards saving the 10% required to ensure that we don’t go through load-shedding again,’ said Maphumulo

Three emergency stages or phases of effecting load shedding have been identified by ESKOM. Explaining the changes these emergency phases meant Maphumulo said, ‘The emergency stages have necessitated eThekwini Electricity to develop a new schedule that will come into effect when ESKOM demands load-shedding.’

Emergency Stage 1 requires eThekwini Electricity to contribute a percentage (may vary from 1% to 10%) of the national shortfall as determined by Eskom’s National Control. The new schedule, in addition to predominantly residential load shedding, will now include some commercial areas such as Durban Central but will exclude National Key Points such as airports and ports. ‘This means that residential areas will go off as well as some industrial areas fed off residential circuits.  However precautions have been taken not to include predominantly industrial areas or any installation where load shedding could result in an unsafe situation.  Sewage systems or similar facilities are specifically excluded because of the negative regional impact this would have.’ said Maphumulo                                                                                                                                                                              

Emergency Stage 2 will be when a greater amount of power reduction is required by Eskom. This stage will affect some industries, excluding industrial continuous processes and National Key Points such as airports and ports.

Emergency Stage 3 will be when Eskom’s generating capacity is heavily strained and a National black-out could be possible. All sectors will be affected in this scenario.

‘Load shedding can be avoided wholly if we take it upon ourselves to do what needs to be done and save the required 10%.’said Maphumulo.

 Examples of the top 11 energy savers recommended by the electricity department are: 

1. Showering instead of bathing

2. Using cold water taps

3. Using full loads in equipment

4. Using small appliances

5. Setting geyser thermostats at 55degrees

6. Sun-drying washing

7. Change to energy saving lamps (CFL)

8. Closing doors and windows

9. Using electric blankets instead of heaters

10. Switching off heaters when not in the room

11. Not overheating rooms

 

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Block A	04:00-06:30	08:00-10:30	04:00-06:30	08:00-10:30	04:00-06:30	08:00-10:30	08:00-10:30
Block B	06:00-08:30	14:00-16:30	06:00-08:30	14:00-16:30	06:00-08:30	14:00-16:30	14:00-16:30
Block C	08:00-10:30	16:00-18:30	08:00-10:30	16:00-18:30	08:00-10:30	16:00-18:30	16:00-18:30
Block D	10:00-12:30	12:00-14:30	10:00-12:30	12:00-14:30	10:00-12:30	12:00-14:30	12:00-14:30
Block E	12:00-14:30	10:00-12:30	12:00-14:30	10:00-12:30	12:00-14:30	10:00-12:30	10:00-12:30
Block F	14:00-16:30	18:00-20:30	14:00-16:30	18:00-20:30	14:00-16:30	18:00-20:30	18:00-20:30
Block G	16:00-18:30	20:00-22:30	16:00-18:30	20:00-22:30	16:00-18:30	20:00-22:30	20:00-22:30
Block H	18:00-20:30	04:00-06:30	18:00-20:30	04:00-06:30	18:00-20:30	04:00-06:30	04:00-06:30
Block J	20:00-22:30	06:00-08:30	20:00-22:30	06:00-08:30	20:00-22:30	06:00-08:30	06:00-08:30

 

 

Area	Block
Albert Park	Block D
Amanzimtoti Central	Block B
Amanzimtoti North	Block B
Amanzimtoti South	Block B
Asherville	Block H
Ashley	Block J
Assagai	Block F
Athlone	Block G
Atholl Heights	Block J
Avoca	Block G
Avoca Hills	Block C
Bakerville Gardens	Block G
Bayview	Block B
Bellair	Block A
Bellgate	Block F
Belvedere	Block F
Berea	Block F
Berea West	Block F
Berkshire Downs	Block E
Besters Camp	Block F
Beverly Hills	Block C
Blair Atholl	Block J
Blue Lagoon	Block D
Bluff	Block E
Bonela	Block E
Booth Road Industrial	Block E
Bothas Hill	Block F
Briardene	Block G
Briardene Industrial Park	Block G
Brighton Beach	Block G
Brindhaven	Block H
Broadlands	Block C
Buena Vista	Block F
Buffelbosch	Block A
Buffelsdale	Block J
Bulwer	Block B
Burbreeze	Block J
Camelot	Block J
Canelands	Block H
Caneside	Block H
Carrington Heights	Block B
Castle Hill	Block G
Casuarina Beach	Block G
Cato Manor	Block E
Centenary Park	Block C
Charnwood	Block G
Chelmsford	Block F
Chesterville	Block E
Chiltern Hills	Block H
Christianburg	Block H
City Central	Block E
City Central	Block D
City Market	Block D
Clayfields	Block C
Clermont	Block H
Clifton Hills	Block J
Clifton Park	Block J
Coedmore	Block A
Cordoba Gardens	Block B
Corobrick Industrials	Block G
Coronation	Block C
Corovoca	Block C
Cowies Hill	Block J
CR Swart Court House	Block D
Crestholme	Block J
Crestview	Block J
Dassenhoek	Block B
Dawncliffe	Block J
Dawncrest	Block J
Doonheights	Block H
Doonside	Block F
Dores Flats	Block H
Duffs Road	Block C
Durban Harbour	Block D
Durban North	Block G
Earlsfield	Block G
Eastbury	Block C
Effingham Heights	Block G
Emberton	Block J
Embo	Block F
Engonyameni	Block A
Escombe	Block A
Essenwood	Block G
Essenwood	Block F
Everest Heights	Block H
Everton	Block J
Ezimbokodweni	Block B
Fairbreeze	Block J