[imagesource:axelbührmann/flickr]

Eskom seems to have contradicted Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, announcing that there will be ‘consistent blackouts’ in December and January.

This seems to fly in the face of the minister’s statement that electricity demand during December was expected to be lower against a backdrop of lower industrial demand, making it possible to suspend blackouts on some days.

Eskom officials recently delivered a presentation (on 22 November) detailing that the country will still be subject to deep power cuts in December and January. Except for three days, officials predict there will be blackouts (between stages 1 and 3) every day throughout December.

This is the best-case scenario, assuming fewer unscheduled disruptions at Eskom power plants. The worst-case scenario requires daily load-shedding between stages 4 and 6, with no relief. January is expected to have a similar best and worst-case situation.

Even for the majority of 2024 and early 2025, the electrical situation appears bleak, with demand on the rise and uncomfortably high levels of unscheduled outages, putting the entire system in peril.

December is traditionally a risky month for the electricity grid since hotter weather makes power plants and their components more susceptible to overheating and outages. This has been true for the past seven years, and as we all know, not much has changed in the last few years – unfortunately.

The whole electricity fiasco has now become a ‘maybe, maybe not’ exercise and all most of us can really do is top up our gas bottles, stock up on firewood, and wait and see. Judging by the apocalyptic WhatsApp messages that are being circulated we might be in for a summer of discontent. Or not.

We’re in freefall at the moment and it’s anybody’s guess where we will land.

[source:dm]