Several enquiries have been received about load shedding, while there are also questions about the Municipality’s role in this.

Load shedding is determined entirely by Eskom, which also switches off the municipal sub-stations in stages (1, 2, 3a or 3b) depending on Eskom’s ability at any given moment to meet the national demand for electricity. Announced stages are often changed during the day, with notice periods sometimes less than two hours.

The load shedding is done according to a schedule drawn up by Eskom for municipalities. The latest schedule took effect on 1 February 2015 and applies to the whole municipal area. All areas in Mossel Bay, with one exception, are switched off more or less simultaneously for the same period in terms of the schedule.

The exception in the Mossel Bay area is Voorbaai, Island View and adjacent areas, which are served by the same substation. The substation is not switched off in order not to disrupt the pumping of diesel from tankers to the Gourikwa power station next to the PetroSA plant. Eskom imports diesel to Mossel Bay to supply the power station.

The load shedding schedule for Mossel Bay can be viewed on the Municipality’s website at www.mosselbay.gov.za.

During Stage 1 load shedding the power is switched off for one period of two and a half hours per day. Mossel Bay is not affected during Stage 1 on days 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and 31 of the month, depending on the number of days per month.

When it is Phase 2 load shedding it alternates between one period of two and a half hours and two periods of two and a half hours each per day. When it is Phase 3a load shedding, it alternates between two periods of two and a half hours and three periods of two and a half hours per day. When it is Stage 3b load shedding the power is switched off for three periods of two and a half hours each per day.  •