No power cuts this summer, says Eskom
No load-shedding was implemented during the winter period and while none is expected during summer the risk remains, as the system is still tight and vulnerable
POWER utility Eskom says it remains optimistic that it will be able to keep the lights on throughout the summer.
While electricity demand in summer is generally lower than in winter, Eskom last week said the summer period comes with its own challenges. ‘No load-shedding was implemented during the winter period and while none is expected during summer the risk remains, as the system is still tight and vulnerable. ‘The change in customer electricity consumption in summer means sustained demand throughout the day and not just over the evening peak as people use air conditioning,’ Eskom said.
The state-owned utility said it will ramp up planned maintenance over the summer period, taking advantage of the overall reduced demand for electricity.
It said the objective over the next seven months is to avoid load-shedding while conducting an average of 5 500 Megawatts planned maintenance, and keeping unplanned breakdowns below 9 500 Megawatts. ‘Our objective over the summer is to sustain our plant performance and to continue to maintain our plant in order to avoid unplanned breakdowns.
‘While the risk of loadshedding always exists, we remain confident that we are on course to keeping the lights on for South Africa this summer,’ said Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer.
Eskom however appealed to customers to continue to use electricity sparingly throughout the day by doing the following:
• Set air conditioners’ average temperature in summer at 23ºC
• Be energy efficient and change light bulbs to energy efficient lights/LED’s
• Use the cold water tap rather than using the geyser every time
• Set your swimming pool pump cycle to run twice a day, three hours at a time for optimal energy use.
• At the end of the day, turn off computers, copiers, printers and fax machines at the switch. Avoid stand-by or sleep mode.
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