By Eleanor Momberg
The electricity crisis is not over, and only full co-operation by all users of power will ensure there is no load shedding this summer.
After a winter almost free of power outages following the blackouts in January, South Africans have begun to rest on their laurels and are starting to consume more electricity. This as the summer maintenance season by Eskom gets into full swing, with some units already being shut down for repairs.
Fani Zulu, an Eskom spokesperson, said because there was a low reserve margin, the electricity supply remained strained. "As long as we do not address that, we remain in a vulnerable state," he said.
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Unplanned power cuts could happen at any time This means that unplanned power cuts could happen at any time.
While electricity consumption in winter is traditionally higher during the evening peak hours and during cold spells, the summer months hold different dynamics, including the fact that many units are shut down for maintenance.
Zulu said that, for now, Eskom had enough money for the maintenance work that needed to be done. But securing financing for its multibillion-rand expansion project, including two nuclear power stations, was proving difficult. Moody's Investors' Service had lowered Eskom's local and foreign currency ratings in August, as well as its baseline credit assessment, following a review initiated in May.
Ratings agency Standard and Poor's this week placed Eskom on credit watch after it applied for government guarantees on existing and future debt.
Earlier this year the power utility was granted a 27,5 percent tariff increase, which was substantially lower than the amount it had initially requested to meet primary energy costs and fund its demand-side management programme. The government also agreed to grant Eskom a R60-billion loan over five years.
Besides upgrading power stations, the emphasis remains on savings
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