THE City of Joburg announced on Sunday, 5 November, that it is ready to take the switch from Eskom.
The city said it's set to start with the implementation of the new load shedding schedule on Monday, 6 November.
According to MMC Jack Sekwaila, this move will also ensure that the city can decide who to load shed and who not to while adhering to the megawatts requirements by Eskom in the event of the system being under serious strain.
Sekwaila said as the multi-party government of this metro, this talks to one of their plans to ensure they attract investments within the city while saving and creating jobs.
"The impact of load shedding on the city's economy cannot be understated. As such, we should be deliberate in our efforts to cushion every sector from the gruelling impact of load shedding," Sekwaila said.
The new load shedding schedule to be implemented from Monday, 6 November, will eliminate the 4-hour duration in all stages, maintain a two-hour shutdown up to stage eight, and reduce the frequency of load shedding.
In five days, a customer will likely be shed only once between stages one and possibly three. A customer will not be shed at the same time two or three days in a row.
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City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said the entity has, over the years and months, conducted some simulations and network reconfiguration to ensure a smooth transition to the new schedule.
"We have already started a few months ago with the gradual exclusion of most of our industrial, large business customers. This exclusion has also been extended to most essential services, including health facilities and water, with work underway to ensure more essential services are excluded," Mashava said.
"Our engagement with Eskom throughout this transition has been cordial and fruitful. We have made a commitment to Eskom to ensure that the security of supply and the integrity and stability of the national grid is not compromised by the new changes," Mashava said.
Mashava said work would continue between Eskom and City Power to ensure these areas are also brought into the City Power load shedding schedule.
