GEORGE NEWS - Stage 4 load-shedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 05:00 on Saturday 1 April.
Stage 3 load-shedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00 on Saturday followed by Stage 4 load-shedding until 05:00 on Sunday 2 April.
At 05:00 on Sunday, Stage 2 load-shedding will be implemented until 16:00. Then Stage 3 load-shedding will implemented from 16:00 on Sunday until 16:00 on Monday 3 April.
Receive Eskom loadshedding notifications by downloading the free EskomSePush app from Google Play Store at https://sepush.co.za/
George will be affected as follows:
- Friday 31 March: 16:00 - 18:30
- Saturday 1 April: 06:00 - 08:30 | 14:00 - 16:30 | 22:00 - 00:30
- Sunday 2 April: 22:00 - 00:30
- Monday 3 April: 06:00 - 08:30 | 22:00 - 00:30
Uniondale will be affected as follows:
- Friday 31 March: 19:00 - 21:30
- Saturday 1 April: 01:00 - 03:30 | 09:00 - 11:30 | 17:00 - 19:30
- Sunday 2 April: 01:00 - 03:30 | 17:00 - 19:30
- Monday 3 April: 01:00 - 03:30 | 09:00 - 11:30 | 17:00 - 19:30
Switching on after load-shedding
Not all areas will be switched back on at the same time!
Residents of George must please note that with the extended load-shedding, 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 load-shedding 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 load-shedding, the spikes for George are consistently reaching 105 – 112 MVA.
Areas will be switched on in sections, on rotation after load-shedding.
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 load-shedding (especially a 4-hour slot).
The municipality will now in rotation, switch the power on in sections. This means if for example the load-shedding slot is scheduled from 20:00 – 22:30, there is a chance that your area may only come on at 22:45 or 23:00.
Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after load-shedding.
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 the after hours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report that 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 that needs to be sorted out.
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