Severe weather conditions have delayed power restoration efforts in various parts of the Western Cape, impacting numerous Eskom customers.
Western Cape outages prolonged by severe weather
The affected areas include the Overberg District, Garden Route, Central Karoo, West Coast, and Cape Winelands.
Heavy rainfall and flooding have made it unsafe for Eskom technicians to access and repair damaged infrastructure.
Eskom emphasised that the extreme weather has delayed repair efforts, and they are closely monitoring the situation to commence repair work as soon as it is safe to do so.
“We request affected customers to remain patient and assure them that every effort is being made to address the situation as swiftly as possible. We recommend staying informed through Eskom’s official communication channels for updates on service restoration,” Eskom noted.
Eskom has also reminded customers to exercise caution and treat all appliances and Eskom infrastructure as live during the unplanned outage.
Power Alert: Here’s the latest outlook on loadshedding
In a recent power alert, Eskom announced that loadshedding remains suspended after 65 consecutive days of no interruptions.
This extended suspension is attributed to sustained improvements in the reliability of the generation fleet. Eskom’s Generation Operational Recovery Plan, initiated in March 2023, along with extensive planned maintenance, has contributed significantly to the improved reliability and availability of the generation fleet.
Key performance highlights include a reduction in unplanned outages, with the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) decreasing to 28.37% in the financial year to date, a 7.5% improvement compared to the same period last year.
The year-to-date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) increased to 61.0%, an 8.3% improvement compared to last year. The strategic utilization of Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) has also been notably lower compared to the past two years.
Eskom’s winter outlook, published on April 26, 2024, remains in force, and the generation performance continues to surpass the forecast. The winter forecast anticipated a likely scenario of unplanned outages at 15,500MW with loadshedding limited to Stage 2.
However, the current unplanned outages average at 12,500MW, 3,000MW less than anticipated. Eskom plans to return a total of 3,500MW of generating capacity to service by Monday, 3 June 2024.
Eskom has appealed to the public to use electricity sparingly and efficiently, especially with the temperatures expected to drop over the weekend.
This includes switching off geysers and pool pumps from 17:00 to 21:00 to help alleviate pressure on the power system.
The next update from Eskom is scheduled for Friday, 7 June 2024, or sooner if there are significant changes.