Businesses May Suffer Due To Uncertainty In Load-Shedding Schedule
Businesses May Suffer Due To Uncertainty In Load-Shedding Schedule. Eskom announced on Monday that it was reducing load shedding to two hours a day for Gauteng. Gauteng is currently hit by rotational power cuts that last for more than four hours at a time.
The power utility also included some parts of North West that will have a reduced amount of load shedding; these changes will be effective from Tuesday.
“The move from four hours to two hours of load shedding is aimed at addressing the unintended consequences that come with the longer supply interruptions, particularly during the resurgence of Covid-19. Electricity users are advised to always check with their supplier should load shedding exceed two hours.” the Eskom statement read.
However, City Power released a contradictory statement to that of Eskom saying that its load shedding schedule remains unchanged.
“”City Power would like to notify its customers across the City of Johannesburg that our load shedding schedule has not changed. As such, City Power urges its customers to ignore the recent incorrect media reports suggesting that there are or there will be changes to the current schedule which remains unchanged. Should there be any changes or plans to move to a new schedule and times, we will communicate with customers first.” the statement read.
The uncertainty around the load shedding schedule is affecting South African businesses in a negative way in that companies are not able to properly prepare for the power cuts as the schedules and timeframes of the aren’t being communicated clearly.
When power cuts are implemented without notice, small businesses suffer the most as of them do not have generators or other means of power supply that will keep their business open. With the heavy burden that businesses are facing with the Covid-19 pandemic, these power cuts will put further burdens in terms of financial loss due to not being able to operate.
