Eskom is to suspend scheduled load-shedding from May 5, the utility’s CEO, Jacob Maroga, said on Wednesday.
”We are seeing evidence of increased energy savings from municipalities and Eskom is optimistic that further reductions to reach our 10% savings target are possible,” said Maroga.
Scheduled power cuts have already been suspended for this week owing to the number of public holidays grouped together and the lower demand typically experienced during such times.
A task team of senior Eskom executives and top officials of municipalities from around South Africa is to meet early next week to discuss the way forward in driving further energy savings to meet the national target.
This meeting is a further follow-up to the formation of the task team on April 18.
”We have said from the beginning that load-shedding is not our preferred option to achieve the 10% savings the nation needs.
”Recent savings, particularly from industry, have shown that it should be possible to achieve this objective sustainably through a concerted and committed effort by all of us,” said Maroga.
”This is the spirit of Eskom’s engagement with municipalities and we hope that the 10% target will be met so that it will not be necessary to reinstate scheduled load-shedding,” he said.
However, Eskom warned that should the national grid come under unexpected pressure, there may be occasions where brief periods of power cuts could be required. — Sapa