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Eskom asks customers to reduce consumption
- Consumers face a new load shedding schedule
- Blames severely constrained system
State-owned power company Eskom has pleaded with consumers to reduce electricity consumption. Eskom made this known in a statement released last night. The power sector giant asked the consumers to reduce consumption or risk the implementation of Phase 1 or Phase 2 load shedding. ”The supply constraints are caused by high breakdowns in generation units and high winter demand”, the statement read. Consumers were asked to prepare for a load shedding schedule without notice.
”While no load shedding is anticipated at this point, Eskom could be forced to implement Stage 1 or, if necessary, Stage 2 load shedding at short notice should any further breakdowns occur”, the statement continued.
South Africa in recent times has seen an increase in the frequency of load shedding in the country. A huge debt profile and inadequate infrastructure have contributed to the increase in load shedding schedules. According to the Minister of Public Enterprises, the transmission company will be legally separated by December. South Africa began the unbundling process in 2019.