In order to equitably distribute loadshedding both geographically and in terms of time, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality rotates eight (8) groups over a weekly period, with each group being shed for an equal number of hours over the said week, and each receiving a different loadshedding timeslot so that the distribution is fair.
As Eskom does not necessarily announce loadshedding everyday, this may result in some groups being shed more than others over a period. The consequent unintended "inequity" is sometimes exacerbated by a change in the stage of loadshedding (Eskom has four different stages of loadshedding depending on the demand versus the supply). For this we sincerely apologise but -- as we cannot predict with any modicum of certainty as to, firstly, whether or not there will be loadshedding and, secondly, at what stage such loadshedding will be -- the scheduling system that we have compiled is the most optimally equitable system that can be applied.
Of course, we are always on a path of continuous improvement and, more importantly, are always cognisant of and attentive to the feedback of our residents. To this end, we have picked up that the substation feeding supply to certain sections in Area 18 of Group 6, namely parts of Westering, Linton Grange, Kabega Park and Morningside, were regularly experiencing cable faults, resulting in residents in these affected areas either experiencing power outages outside of the load shedding schedule or, in certain instances, not being switched off at all in order to protect the integrity of the ambivalent substation.
We are happy to announce that we have now rectified this particular problem: these sections shall now be be fed from a substation in Rowallan Park; these sections will, therefore, now fall under Area 14 of Group 5 and will, accordingly, experience load shedding as part of Group 5.
Please note that this will not mean that the entire suburbs mentioned will be in Group 5, as sections thereof will remain in Group 6.
We apologise for the change in the grouping but reiterate that this is indeed part of continuous improvement.
The updated load shedding groups are attached.
