Stage 6 load shedding hitting sooner as winter demand ramps up

Eskom has announced that due to the cold weather, stage 6 load shedding is being implemented an hour earlier than expected.

Stage 6 is now set for 15:00 this Monday (15 May) – previously 16:00.

Colder weather has ramped up electricity demand across the country, as expected by researchers, energy analysts and the minister of electricity himself.

Eskom gave no further update on the rest of the schedule, so one may assume that it will remain the same for the rest of the day until the utility communicates an alternative.

Monday, 15 May

• Stage 6: 00h00 to 05h00
• Stage 4: 05h00 to 15h00
• Stage 6: 15h00 to 00h00

On Sunday (14 May), Eskom said that stage 6 load shedding will still return, and a rotation between stage 6 overnight and stage 4 during the day will continue until further notice.

The company has kept up. the call for non-essential appliances to be switched off.

Schedules 

For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:

• City of Johannesburg
• City of Ekurhuleni 
• City of Tshwane 
• City of Cape Town (PDF)
• Nelson Mandela Bay
• eThekwini
• Manguang
• Buffalo City

For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.

Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.

Read: Load shedding is pushing rich South Africans out the door

Stage 6 load shedding hitting sooner as winter demand ramps up