For the time being, there will be no load shedding of electricity in the Makhado (Louis Trichardt) area.

For the past two weeks, rumours have started doing the rounds about an Eskom 2013 load-shedding schedule for Makhado (Louis Trichardt). This schedule, according to information, would contain the dates and times for when power cuts in the town’s electricity supply will take place.

With the winter season here, concerned residents started phoning the offices of the Zoutpansberger in an attempt to get more details on this report.

Resident’s minds, for the time being, were put at ease by the electricity department of the Makhado Municipality who indicated that they had received no load-shedding notice from Eskom.

But Eskom’s ability to keep the country’s lights on this winter remains a big worry.

Shortly before the winter season, Eskom urged South Africans to try and save 10% of their electricity usage, especially during peak periods. Peak periods are from 06:00 until 09:00 and from 16:00 until 21:00.

“Higher levels of planned maintenance are urgently required in order to ensure that our ageing fleet of power stations can perform more reliably, on a sustained basis,” said the energy supplier. According to Eskom, almost two thirds of their power stations are already past their mid-point of expected operating lives and require higher levels of planned maintenance work.

That is why, said Eskom Chief Executive Brian Dames, they will continue to do extensive maintenance work, no matter how challenging it might be in the cold months ahead. “We have kept the lights on in recent years, in a situation of constrained supply, in part by deferring non-essential maintenance,” said Eskom. They have now implemented a five-year-plan that will enable them to do the required maintenance.

Peak demand is expected to reach approximately 36 700MW nationwide this winter, similar to last winter.

Eskom have therefore urged households, in particular, to help Beat the Peak by reducing demand during peak hours. Geysers, pool pumps, non-essential lighting and all other non-essential appliances should be switched off during those hours.