Load-shedding

Load-shedding

City customers load-shedding:

We’re almost there.

Please be patient.


Eskom customers load-shedding:

We’re almost there.

Please be patient.




We are doing all we can to protect you where possible, but non-stop load-shedding at high stages impacts our ability to protect.

Follow us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) for updates.

Remember to be energy-wise and switch off appliances that use large amounts of power, when not in use.

Load-shedding app

Download the City's mobile app for iOS or Android:
Apple Store | Google Play

Load-shedding stages and schedules

Load-shedding stages depend on the extent of the shortage of generation capacity to meet the country’s electricity demand, with stage 1 being the least serious, and stage 8 being the most serious. Outages generally last for about 2,5 hours. Due to technical issues there can be minor changes in the load-shedding area boundaries from time to time.

UPDATED LOAD-SHEDDING MAP AND SCHEDULE

Area 19 has been merged with Area 3, hence the absence of Area 19.

Areas 18 and 20 have been incorporated with the Eskom supply zone (in white), hence the absence of these area numbers.

Resources

How to check your schedule

​Map area Use this name on the Eskom load-shedding schedule
17 Macassar
21 Philippi
22 Nyanga
23 Mfuleni
Nomzamo Nomzamo​

Outage tips

Switch off and unplug all electronics and appliances when the power is due to go off as it may come back with a spike in the voltage, which can damage electronic devices such as computers, television sets, DVD players, etc.

If your electricity remains off for longer than the period specified in the schedule, SMS the City’s technical operations centre on 31220. The restoration of power sometimes results in what is described as ‘nuisance tripping’, which often goes unreported due to the assumption that the outage is due to load-shedding.

Be prepared

  • Cash: Keep some cash on you as ATMs cannot operate without electricity
  • Communication: Ensure that your cell phone, laptop, tablet and radio are always fully charged when power is available. This will allow you to be able to communicate with friends and family during load-shedding
  • Eating: If you do not have a gas stove, prepare meals before the power is scheduled to be switched off. Boil water in your kettle and keep it in thermos flasks for hot drinks. You can also use an insulating cover on teapots, pots and pans to keep drinks and meals warm
  • Most medication requiring refrigeration can be kept in a closed fridge for several hours without spoiling but you should check with your doctor or pharmacist if in doubt
  • Security and safety: Backup batteries for electrically operated gates, garage doors and security systems should be kept in a good working condition and be able to last through periods of load-shedding. Store temporary lighting such as battery-powered torches, gas lamps and candles in places where they will be easy to find in the dark
  • Transport: Make sure that your vehicle always has fuel in the tank as most petrol stations are unable to pump fuel during power outages.
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power outages

For power outages unrelated to load-shedding: Please consult the City's @CityofCTAlerts Twitter feed for updates on scheduled maintenance outages as well as unscheduled power outages.

If a power outage is not listed, please report the fault by submitting a service request or contacting the Call Centre on 0860 103 089. Our Electricity Department will attend to the matter and restore power as soon as possible.

The City’s Executive Director for Energy and Climate Change, Kadri Nassiep, explains how we manage Eskom’s Stage 4 load-shedding. Listen to the clip below.

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Load-shedding guide

Our Load-shedding Resilience Guide offers easy and affordable ways to protect your home from load-shedding.

Contact details

City of Cape Town

Eskom

Contact the Eskom National Sharecall Number directly:

Document downloads

Load-shedding FAQs
09/03/2020, FAQs - 670.3 KB

Load-shedding Outage Tips
06/03/2019, How-to guide - 842.5 KB

Load-shedding Stages 1- 8: All Areas Schedule and Map
14/08/2020, Schedule - 4.2 MB

Load-shedding Resilience Guide
14/11/2022, How-to guide - 5.6 MB

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