As South Africa continues to navigate its ongoing energy challenges, City Power has released the load reduction schedule for the week of 12-18 August 2024. This schedule is crucial for residents and businesses across the country to plan their activities and minimise the impact of power cuts.

What is Load Reduction?

Load reduction is a measure implemented by City Power to manage electricity demand in areas with high levels of illegal connections, meter bypasses, and infrastructure theft. Unlike load shedding, which is a national effort to balance supply and demand, load reduction targets power cuts to specific areas to reduce the strain on the grid.

Load Reduction Schedule for 12-18 August 2024

The load reduction schedule for the week is as follows:

Monday, 12 August: Load reduction will occur from the following times:
08:30 PM to 11:00 PM -block 1
06:30 AM to 9:00 AM – block 2
08:30 to 11:00 AM – block 3
04:30 AM to 07:00 AM -block 4
04:30 PM to 07:00 OM – block 5
06:30 PM to 09:00 PM – block 6

Tuesday, 13 August:
08:30 AM to 11:00 AM -block 1
04:30 AM to 07:00 AM- block 2
04:30 PM to 07:00 PM- block 3
06:30 AM to 09:00 AM- block 4
06:30 PM to 09:00 PM- block 5
08:30 PM to 11:00 PM- block 6

Wednesday, 14 August:
06:30 PM to 09:00 PM- block 1
08:30 PM to 11:00 PM- block 2
08:30 AM to 11:00 AM- block 3
04:30AM to 07:00 AM- block 4
04:30 PM to 07:00 PM- block 5
06:30 AM to 09:00 AM – block 6

Thursday, 15 August:
04:30 AM to 07:00 AM- block 1
04:30 PM to 07:00 PM – block 2
06:30 AM to 09:00 AM -block 3
06:30 PM to 09:00 PM- block 4
08:30 PM to 11:00 PM- block 5
08:30 AM to 11:00 AM- block 6

Friday, 16 August
06:30 AM to 09:00 AM- block 1
06:30 PM to 09:00 PM- block 2
08:30 PM to 11:00 PM- block 3
08:30 AM to 11:00 AM- block 4
04:30 AM to 07:00 AM – block 5
04:30 PM to 07:00 PM- block 6

Saturday, 17 August
04:30 PM to 07:00 PM- block 1
06:30 AM to 09:00 AM- block 2
06:30 PM to 09:00 PM- block 3
08:30 PM to 11:00 PM- block 4
08:30 AM to 11:00 AM- block 5
04:30 AM to 07:00 AM0- block 6

Sunday, 18 August
08:30 PM to 11:00 PM- block 1
08:30 AM to 11:00 AM- block 2
04:30 AM to 07:00 AM- block 3
04:30 PM to 07:00 PM- block 4
06:30 AM to 09:00 AM- block 5
06:30 PM to 09:00 PM- block 6

Impact on Residents and Businesses

Residents and businesses in affected areas are advised to:

Plan Ahead: Make sure all essential tasks requiring electricity are completed outside the load reduction times.
Stay Informed: Follow Eskom’s official channels for any updates or changes to the schedule.
Energy Efficiency: Reduce electricity usage during peak hours to help stabilize the grid and avoid further disruptions.

Why is Load Reduction Necessary?

Load reduction is essential to prevent overloading of the electricity grid, which can cause damage to infrastructure and result in prolonged power outages. It also helps to address issues related to non-payment for electricity services and the illegal use of power.

How to Prepare

To minimize the inconvenience of load reduction:

Charge Devices: Ensure that phones, laptops, and other essential devices are fully charged before the scheduled load reduction periods.
Backup Power: If possible, consider investing in backup power solutions such as generators, inverters, or solar systems.
Safety First: Remember to switch off electrical appliances before load reduction to prevent damage when the power is restored.

Final Thoughts

While load reduction is a challenging reality for many South Africans, being prepared can help mitigate its impact. Stay connected with City Power’s updates and use this time to explore alternative energy solutions that can provide greater independence from the grid.

For the latest information on load reduction and other energy-related news, visit City Power’s official website or follow their social media channels.

By understanding and adapting to these changes, you can better manage the impact on your daily life and ensure that you remain resilient in the face of South Africa’s power cuts and ongoing energy challenges.