Electricity usage pushed up by cold

150711. Sunset in Crownmines, Johannesburg. The picture can be used for Eskom energy supply crisis. Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

150711. Sunset in Crownmines, Johannesburg. The picture can be used for Eskom energy supply crisis. Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

Published Aug 6, 2012

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Johanneburg -

The cold weather has pushed up electricity usage, Eskom warned on Monday.

“We urge all South Africans to partner with us to save 10 percent of their electricity usage, particularly during the peak hours from 5pm to 9pm,” it said in a system status bulletin.

Total demand on Monday was forecast to reach 34,924 megawatts (MW).

Eskom had 36,017 MW of capacity available, including from open cycle gas turbines.

Current planned maintenance accounted for 1244 MW, and unplanned outages affected 4800 MW.

On Sunday, peak demand of 31,507 MW was met, with an available capacity of 36,684 MW.

On Saturday, peak demand of 31,113 MW was met, with an available capacity of 36,304 MW.

Peak demand for the rest of the week was expected to reach 35,154 MW on Tuesday, 33,127 MW on Wednesday, 32,289 MW on Thursday, 33,085 MW on Friday, 31,372 MW on Saturday and 31,771 MW on Sunday. - Sapa

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