Load shedding resumed nationally on Thursday morning due to technical problems at power stations, said Eskom.
”Load shedding will continue throughout the day and the risk remains high for the rest of the week, but should ease at the weekend,” said the company in a statement.
Eskom said load shedding had begun for a short time on Wednesday night during peak period.
The company requested that power be used efficiently.
”Summer is a critical period for Eskom because we do routine maintenance of our plant,” said Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga.
Load shedding schedules are available at www.eskom.co.za.
Meanwhile, the ”true state” of power stations and productivity levels at Eskom should be made public, trade union Solidarity said on Thursday.
The union said Eskom should avert an electricity crisis by improving its equipment maintenance and staff training.
”South Africa can no longer afford to be held to ransom by Eskom. It will take years before a long-term solution in the form of new power stations can come into effect,” said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.
”In the meantime, Eskom must urgently tackle its lack of skilled staff in order to perform continuous routine maintenance at all power stations.”
The union said it was currently busy with a comprehensive investigation into skills shortage.
Some current staff were also unhappy because of a new system of task grading.
The matter has been referred for arbitration at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, said Solidarity.
Earlier this week, Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger said reserve supplies were low and the risk of load shedding high.
”For five to seven years the reserve margin is going to be low.”
Etzinger said Eskom was trying to do as much maintenance as possible during summer months, when electricity demand was low.
About 10% to 15% of Eskom’s capacity was on maintenance every day at present, he said.
This was why, even in summer, when electricity demand was low, load shedding needed to continue, said Etzinger. — Sapa