- Eskom will implement 10-hour power outages for maintenance in Soweto and Braamfischerville from Tuesday to Thursday.
- The utility has avoided load shedding for 196 days thanks to improved management and maintenance efforts.
Eskom has announced planned 10-hour power outages in Soweto and Braamfischerville from Tuesday, October 8, to Thursday, October 10, 2024. The electricity supply will be cut from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The outages are necessary to replace rotten poles that support medium-voltage powerlines, which are part of Eskom’s ongoing maintenance program.
In a notice to customers, Eskom stated that the maintenance work began last week, during which power was briefly disconnected on Wednesday and Thursday. The scheduled outages for the coming days are designed to ensure safety while crucial maintenance is performed.
Eskom has advised residents to treat all electrical appliances as live during the power interruptions and expressed gratitude for their understanding and cooperation during this period.
This announcement comes as Eskom celebrates Day 196 without load-shedding blackouts, a significant achievement attributed to the new leadership under CEO Dan Marokane and support from Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
Over the past six months, Eskom has reportedly spent around R6 billion on diesel to power Open Cycle Gas Turbines, effectively averting load shedding. This expenditure represents R11.5 billion in cost savings compared to the previous financial year.
Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 61% over the past week and 63.2% year-to-date, indicating a recovery in power generation capabilities. Power stations like Kusile, Majuba, and Camden have been performing well. Duvha Power Station achieved an impressive EAF of 81.9% last Friday, marking a significant milestone in the utility’s recovery efforts.
The ongoing improvements in power performance are attributed to Eskom’s comprehensive recovery plan, accelerated maintenance, collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and the dedication of power station managers and their teams. Eskom is optimistic about a load-shedding-free festive summer season, although projections indicate the possibility of load-shedding resuming in March next year.
In addition to the maintenance efforts, members of Parliament are scheduled to conduct an oversight visit to the Medupi power station and Eskom’s headquarters this week. This will further underline the importance of transparency and accountability within the utility as it works to improve service delivery and reliability for South African consumers.