Eskom implemented load shedding at 11am on Monday and will continue with the rolling blackouts until 10pm tonight, the electricity utility said.
Due to electricity demand that has exceeded supply, Eskom implemented load shedding in stage one from 11am. It later announced that it was moving to stage two load shedding. The power cuts would continue until 10pm, it said on Twitter.
“The power system is severely constrained due to unforeseen technical problems at power stations.”
The utility urged consumers to switch off geysers, air conditioners, pool pumps and all nonessential appliances as a matter of urgency.
It asked shopping centres and office blocks to switch off nonessential lights and put photocopy machines and computers on standby after hours.
“Eskom will provide regular updates on the status of the power system through all media platforms,” it said.
Stage one allows for up to 1GW of the national load to be shed, stage two for up to 2GW and stage three for up to 4GW. — TechCentral and Sapa