South Africans will mark July 4, 2024, on their calendars, as the country has experienced 100 days without load shedding.
When the country reached 86 days of uninterrupted suspension of load shedding on June 21, 2024, Eskom provided an update on the measures being taken to keep the lights on.
At the time, Eskom announced that load shedding would continue to be suspended until further notice, due to the strong focus on maintaining the gains made in the reliability and stability of the generation coal fleet during the winter months.
Eskom stated that they were using their 'peaking stations,' including the Open Cycle Gas Turbines, during the morning and especially the evening peaks when the demand for electricity is high.
The power utility highlighted that there has been a reduction in unplanned outages.
Eskom stated that the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) dropped to 27.4% in the financial year to date (1 April 2024 to 20 June 2024), from 35.3% recorded in the same period last year (1 April 2023 to 20 June 2023).
South Africans react
South Africans have cheered the 100 days of no load shedding milestone.
From GIFs to tweets, people have taken to X to share their excitement about this achievement, thanking God and sharing how they found out about the 100 days of no load shedding milestone.
Here are reactions from South Africans about 100 days of no load shedding:
Celebrating 100 days of no loadshedding 🤣![CDATA[]]>👀 pic.twitter.com/0fYLTH6blH
— Amanda Mamzangwa 😍❤️ (@Amanda_Umxhosa) July 4, 2024
Imagine that? 100 days without loadshedding? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/RovrjhlJdz
— møshele køenaite 🇵![CDATA[]]>🇸![CDATA[]]>🇨![CDATA[]]>🇩 (@iMoshele) July 4, 2024
100 days of no loadshedding
Look at God
Just got a notification from esp... it was just to day it's been 100 days without loadshedding!! The small panic attack was for nothing!! 🫣![CDATA[]]>🫣![CDATA[]]>😅
— uhmmm... just Hendrik (@NotJustMyHair) July 4, 2024
Today marks 100 days without loadshedding pic.twitter.com/a2GeXqoSHu
— danian timm (@ddt_golf25) July 4, 2024
It's a record... 100 days without #Loadshedding pic.twitter.com/aVJ8uxMXLN
100 days without #loadshedding
— Gary Booysen (@GaryBooysen) July 4, 2024
IOL