kymnjoro
Elder Lister
Load shedding is the deliberate, controlled shutdown of electric power in parts of a power-distribution system.
It is a last-resort measure implemented by a national power supplier to prevent the collapse of the entire electricity grid.
It is not an accidental blackout.
A blackout is an uncontrolled failure.
Load shedding is a planned intervention to manage a crisis where the demand for electricity is greater than the available supply.
To protect the system's integrity, the power supplier intentionally 'sheds' the excess 'load' (demand) by cutting supply to different areas on a rotating basis.
What happens during load shedding?
When load shedding is active, the power supplier switches off power to different areas according to a pre-determined schedule.
These are often called 'rolling blackouts' because the outages 'roll' through various neighbourhoods.
Power suppliers, such as South Africa's Eskom, often use a 'stage' system.
A higher stage, for example 'Stage 6', means more power must be shed from the grid, resulting in longer and more frequent outages for all customers.
Why load shedding occurs
Load shedding is a symptom of a fundamental and persistent gap between a country's energy demand and its supply.
The causes vary but typically include:
Failure in generation of power: Ageing, poorly maintained power plants (often coal-fired) that break down frequently.
Fuel shortages: Lack of coal for thermal plants or, critically for regions like Southern Africa, low water levels in reservoirs like Lake Kariba, which cripples hydroelectric power generation.
Grid instability: An outdated or fragile transmission grid that cannot handle the power load.
Economic factors: A lack of national investment in new generation capacity over many years, or a supplier's financial inability to pay for fuel or perform adequate maintenance.
It is a last-resort measure implemented by a national power supplier to prevent the collapse of the entire electricity grid.
It is not an accidental blackout.
A blackout is an uncontrolled failure.
Load shedding is a planned intervention to manage a crisis where the demand for electricity is greater than the available supply.
To protect the system's integrity, the power supplier intentionally 'sheds' the excess 'load' (demand) by cutting supply to different areas on a rotating basis.
What happens during load shedding?
When load shedding is active, the power supplier switches off power to different areas according to a pre-determined schedule.
These are often called 'rolling blackouts' because the outages 'roll' through various neighbourhoods.
Power suppliers, such as South Africa's Eskom, often use a 'stage' system.
A higher stage, for example 'Stage 6', means more power must be shed from the grid, resulting in longer and more frequent outages for all customers.
Why load shedding occurs
Load shedding is a symptom of a fundamental and persistent gap between a country's energy demand and its supply.
The causes vary but typically include:
Failure in generation of power: Ageing, poorly maintained power plants (often coal-fired) that break down frequently.
Fuel shortages: Lack of coal for thermal plants or, critically for regions like Southern Africa, low water levels in reservoirs like Lake Kariba, which cripples hydroelectric power generation.
Grid instability: An outdated or fragile transmission grid that cannot handle the power load.
Economic factors: A lack of national investment in new generation capacity over many years, or a supplier's financial inability to pay for fuel or perform adequate maintenance.
