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(The Post News)- As some businesses had lost their profit last week in the Johannesburg CBD following scheduled power outages by City Power, Eskom’s power plant breakdowns reached 15,137 megawatts (MW) on Friday afternoon, exceeding the safe limit and increasing the risk of load-shedding.
On 14 May, electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa outlined the winter breakdown outlook. Ramokgopa assured the public that this year’s winter the country might not experience load-shedding; however, stage two load shedding may be considered provided that unplanned outages stay below 13,000 MW.
This means that revenue loss may occur as some businesses might be affected. This was in South Africa in the past few years when they battled with load shedding. In February this year, businesses had struggled with financial setbacks and operational challenges due to load shedding.
Ifran Patel, the owner of Lenasia’s Supermarket Station, is among the businesses that had felt the impact of load shedding in Johannesburg. Patel says many business owners had felt the severe impact of load shedding, which is disrupting their operations and making it hard to plan ahead due to the inability to purchase more stock, essentially threatening the viability of their business.
Amongst other things, he noted how load shedding has severely affected his business, particularly during scheduled outage hours when they can’t use electric equipment. He says they relied on gas bottles, which was proving costly and affecting their operations.
Some areas in Johnsburg have been experiencing load reduction, which has also affected their businesses. Landlords in Soweto say they had lost some of their profit as tenants decided to change places to stay due to load reduction.
Residents in certain township areas, such as Zola, Jabulani, and Zondi, have been facing regular power outages lasting four hours, twice daily, since last September. Recently, these outages have been extended indefinitely, further exacerbating the disruption.
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