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Eskom has not implemented loadshedding in four consecutive days.  The probability of loadshedding remains low from today until Sunday 13 January 2019. This is as a result of the expected decrease in demand as businesses and industries close down for the festive break.
 
However heavy rains over the December to March period could impact coal handling and feeding to the boilers with a potential impact on generation production. While we do not anticipate loadshedding we continue to warn customers that as the system remains vulnerable, any shift could increase the probability of loadshedding. Eskom will communicate if there is a change.
 
Eskom continues to implement a short-to medium-term 9-point recovery programme that will see steady and sustained improvement in plant performance and coal stock levels. During the December period, Eskom will intensify its maintenance activities in an effort to improve generation capacity for the return of businesses and industries in the new year. Steady progress has been made with regards to fixing coal stockpiles. Thirty five (35) new coal contracts have been concluded between January 2018 and 9 December 2018 for the supply of 18.6 Mt with a total contracted volume of 94Mt. In preparation for continuous rains, three days of compacted strategic stockpiles have been created at power stations.
 
While we do not anticipate loadshedding over the holiday period, local power outages could occur not as a result of loadshedding but due to technical faults on the distribution network. If customers experience power outages they are advised to contact the Eskom Customer centre or their municipalities to allow for early restoration.
 
Eskom is grateful to our customers and stakeholders who continue to use electricity efficiently and for key industrial customers who participate in load curtailment.  We also thank our employees who continue to remain dedicated and hard at work as they make personal sacrifices to keep the lights on for the benefit of all South Africans.

Issued by Eskom