Eskom will implement Stage 2 load shedding from Tuesday, 13 May 2025, through Thursday evening, 16 May, during peak evening periods between 16:00 and 22:00.
The utility said the decision was made to “manage limited generation capacity and ensure continued supply during the working days.”
Stage 2 load shedding announcement
The announcement follows a series of delayed unit returns and unplanned breakdowns.
Eskom says it is losing a total of 3,120mw from planned maintenance delays and an additional 1,385mw from breakdowns in the past 24 hours.
#POWERALERT1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) May 13, 2025
Eskom will implement #Stage2 loadshedding during evening peak periods from today at 16:00 until 22:00 on Thursday to ensure supply during working days pic.twitter.com/voim40qFLL
The result?
A temporary spike in unplanned outages pushed Eskom’s unavailable capacity above 13,000mw.
‘Less loadshedding’, babe
Eskom says the setbacks are the result of intensive maintenance operations that, while crucial for long-term grid health, make the system more “sensitive” in the short term.
These delays, coupled with an unplanned capacity loss, fall under the risk scenarios outlined in Eskom’s Winter 2025 Outlook.
Despite these disruptions, Eskom says load shedding incidents have “significantly decreased” when compared to previous years.
Apparently, the overall system is in a “significantly stronger position” heading into the colder months.
Eskom’s winter forecast
Earlier this month, Eskom’s leadership projected no sustained load shedding would be necessary this winter, if unplanned outages could be kept below 15,500mw.
At the time, Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane said the grid was in a healthier state following an aggressive Operational Excellence Programme.
This initiative focused on improving oversight, aligning service providers with stricter standards, and accelerating maintenance timelines.
Bigger plans on the horizon
Looking beyond the immediate crisis, Eskom confirmed that three major expansion projects are still on track.
Once completed, these projects are expected to add an additional 2,500mw to the national grid, perhaps finally shifting Eskom from survival mode into something resembling recovery.
“Commitment from our private sector partners remains strong,” Eskom said in its latest statement.
Load shedding this week
For now, Eskom will continue with targeted evening cuts to protect daytime economic activity. Load shedding is expected to remain confined to peak hours (unless further breakdowns occur).
The utility said it will monitor the grid closely and provide daily updates.
In the meantime, South Africans are urged to use electricity sparingly during peak times.
No promises about how much that will help, but it’s worth a try. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
