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ESKOM LOADSHEDDING UPDATE – 26 FEB @ 20H30

Sunday, 26 February 2023: Stage 4 loadshedding will continue to be implemented until 16:00 on Monday afternoon, whereafter Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented at 16:00 – 05:00 on Tuesday morning. Loadshedding will then be reduced to Stage 3 at 05:00 – 16:00 on both Tuesday and Wednesday, while Stage 4 will be implemented during 16:00 – 05:00 on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

George will be affected as follows:
Monday 27/02/2023
02:00 – 04:30
10:00 – 12:30
18:00 – 20:30

Tuesday 28/02/2023
02:00 – 05:00 **
18:00 – 20:30

Wednesday 01/03/2023
06:00 – 08:30
14:00 – 15:30
22:00 – 00:30

Uniondale will be affected as follows:

Sunday 26/02/2023
21:00 – 23:30

Monday 27/02/2023
05:00 – 07:30
13:00 – 15:30
21:00 – 23:30

Tuesday 28/02/2023
05:00 – 07:30
21:00 – 23:30

Wednesday 01/03/2023
01:00 – 03:30
09:00 – 11:30
17:00 – 19:30

SWITCHING ON AFTER LOADSHEDDING – Not all areas will be switched back on at the same time!
Residents of George must please note that with the extended loadshedding, our Electrotechnical Directorate is no longer able to switch the entire city back on at the same time. Our daily notifiable demand from ESKOM has historically been set at 85MVA and on average George would use between 60 and 80MVA, although the municipality must pay ESKOM for 85MVA.

If the power is returned simultaneously to all areas when loadshedding ends, this creates a massive spike or surge in power with all geysers, freezers/fridges/batteries etc drawing power at the same time. With the extended four-hour loadshedding, the spikes for George are consistently reaching 105 – 112 MVA.

Areas will be switched on in sections, on rotation after Loadshedding.
Eskom has indicated that unless George can reduce the spikes, they will increase our notifiable demand to the highest actual usage level which will in turn increase the purchase cost to the municipality. Consumers are requested to use electricity very sparingly when power returns after loadshedding (especially a 4-hour slot).

The municipality will now in rotation, switch the power on in sections. This means if for example the loadshedding slot is scheduled from 20h00 – 22h30, there is a chance that your area may only come on at 22h45 or 23h00.

Please do not switch high usage equipment on immediately after Loadshedding.
Consumers are therefore urged to turn off high usage equipment and where possible to not switch on appliances such as stoves and kettles for at least 30 minutes after load shedding. This will reduce the risk of overload tripping on the network and reduce our current high MVA spikes.

Reporting power outages
Please do not phone in to the Afterhours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report you have no power immediately after Loadshedding is scheduled to be lifted. Please be aware of the rotational switching on, and wait at least 30 minutes before reporting no power. The directorate will be aware if there has been a possible substation trip which needs to be sorted out.