Electricity Supply Situation

Despite all the warnings from Eskom during 2011 that the summer period will be extremely tight for the generation system, it appears that the country may be headed for load shedding. As at 10 January 2012 Eskom was apparently utilizing some of its emergency supplies and exercising interruptibility options with smelters due to system constraints.

An Engineering News Online article published on 10 January 2011 reports that `Eskom has warned of a "very high" risk of rolling blackouts around the country, but was doing everything it could to avert it’. It quotes Eskom spokeswoman Hilary Joffe as saying that "We are working very closely with our large customers to see if they can reduce their load... but the risk is very high. We are doing our utmost to avoid it," and that "We are experiencing quite a lot of unplanned maintenance. We are not getting performance from our generating plants. There are also quite a lot of technical problems which are cutting supply further.”

AMEU members are reminded of previous suggestions in this Bulletin and individual circulars to become familiar with recommended preparation activities such as possible implementation of of the NRS 048-9 Code of Practice and the Energy Conservation Scheme (ECS) in order to prevent the implementation of planned load shedding. The Eskom `Generation Medium Term Adequacy Reports’ can be accessed on the Eskom website at http://www.eskom.co.za/c/59/supply-status/ and also via a link on the AMEU home page, here.

Mike Rossouw, chairperson of the Energy Intensive User Group (EIUG), is reported to have told Engineering News Online (article on 11 January 2012) that EIUG members were “keenly aware” that total blackouts would be to the detriment of all South Africans, adding that these companies were willing to cooperate with Eskom to reduce their electricity demand.

Engineering News Online reported on 17 January 2011 on the second Eskom weekly ‘state of the power system’ bulletin. Eskom claims to have `…continued to make progress with its maintenance programme, and that the performance of its power stations had improved since last week.’ It also however said that said that the system remained tight and again urged consumers to cut electricity use by 10%. The weekly bulletin is in line with Eskom’s commitment `to transparent and regular communication on the power system, which is expected to be constrained for at least the next two years.’  

Copies of the Engineering News Online articles are available here.