By: Natasha Archary

Eskom has been given the go ahead to implement Stage 16 loadshedding, which will mean reducing 80% of the strain on the national grid.
This was confirmed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on Friday, 05 April after publishing the approved NRS 048-9 Code of Practice Edition 3.
Nersa has approved and published the updated Code of Practice which governs how load shedding is managed.
Development Finance Specialist at Nersa, Ruse Moleshe said the motivation to approve Stage 16 loadshedding is to cater for emergency situations where there is a potential blackout.
“A potential blackout will happen under circumstances where there are challenges to generation capacity, or in terms of the transition and distribution infrastructure, there’s congestion.
Any type of emergency, remember that a blackout unlike loadshedding is unplanned. With loadshedding, the demand or the load is reduced but it’s planned.
So, think of it like an insurance policy, in the event that an emergency happens. We should be able to have adequate response measures on the technical side that can help South Africa avoid a complete blackout.”
Before the Code of Practice was updated, Eskom only had protocols in place upto Stage 8 loadshedding.
The update means Eskom will be allowed to implement loadshedding from Stage 1 to Stage 16.
Meanwhile, Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will brief media on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan on Tuesday, 09 April.
READ: The approved NRS 048-9 Code of Practice Edition 3 which allows Eskom to implement Stage 16 loadshedding
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