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*ESP News - 11 October 2024*

To celebrate the 200th day since loadshedding, we wanted to do a South African <a href="https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days">rickroll</a>, and use the opportunity to answer some of the questions we've received.

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### **Should I uninstall the ESP app?**

**Is Loadshedding Really Gone? Spoiler Alert: No.** We don't always want to bring you bad news but… While we've enjoyed a remarkable streak without loadshedding recently, it's important to note that the challenges facing our power grid haven't completely vanished.

We’re currently on the **third-longest period without loadshedding** in recent memory—a refreshing change that's had us all breathing a little easier (and charging our devices with less anxiety). *200 days is Saturday 12 October 2024 at 05:00 AM*.

[![][image1]](https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/streak.png)

However, the underlying issues that lead to loadshedding are complex and persistent. Maintenance backlogs after winter, infrastructure challenges, and fluctuating demand as our economy grows mean that loadshedding could make a return. So, keep your candles and ESP app handy, just in case… More on this below.

**We're not going anywhere – we'll keep you informed if/when loadshedding returns!**

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### **How are people using ESP as a WhatsApp Group replacement?**

[![][image2]](https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/esp-chat.png)

Looking for a better way to stay connected with your neighbours? With a thriving community of users, **ESP Chats** is designed to bring everyone together, fostering a more open and inclusive space where every voice counts. Stay informed, share updates, and be a part of a connected neighbourhood\!

**How ESP connects you with your community**

* **You are the Admin:** You can long-press on any message to report spam or non-helpful comments. Community moderation ensures that everyone's on their best behavior, keeping conversations productive and enjoyable.
* **Earn Recognition:** Earn points by being helpful and sharing valuable information. Showcase your contributions and see the positive impact you have on your community.
* **Community Updates:** Subscribe to your area's notifications for real-time updates, ensuring everyone stays informed together.
* **Share Images and Videos (NEW\!):** Enhance your messages with photos and videos to keep everyone in the loop visually.

**ESP bringing Stronger Together to your phone\!**

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### **Is Load Reduction just Loadshedding with new branding?**

**No.** While they may seem similar, they actually address different issues.

* **Loadshedding** is implemented when there's not enough electricity supply to meet the national demand. It's a measure to prevent the entire grid from collapsing.
* **Load Reduction** targets specific areas where illegal connections and electricity theft are causing transformers and mini-substations to overload. This overloading can damage equipment and lead to prolonged outages.

**Good News:** EskomSePush (ESP) supports load reduction\! We send out notifications 55 minutes before load reduction starts and display the times for many impacted areas.

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### **WTF is EAF?**

Great question\! EAF stands for **Energy Availability Factor**. It's a key performance metric that indicates the percentage of total potential energy generation that is available over a certain period. In simpler terms, it measures **how much of Eskom's power stations are working**.

In July the average EAF reached 70% for a whole week\! The highest weekly EAF since 2020\!

The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) so far for this year is **59.7%**, up from **54.6%** in the same week as last year.

A higher EAF means more power plants are running efficiently, which reduces the need for loadshedding. Efforts to improve the EAF involve regular maintenance, upgrading infrastructure, and efficient operation of power stations. EAF usually goes down in the Summer months because of more maintenance.

[![][image3]](https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/eaf.png)

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### **What's Eskom's Diesel Budget, and Can I Have Some of It?**

Good news on the money front\! Eskom has reported significant savings in its diesel budget, achieving **R11.51 billion** in diesel savings year-on-year.

Eskom uses Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT) to rapidly generate additional electricity during peak demand or emergencies. OCGTs can start up quickly, providing flexible and immediate power to stabilize the grid when needed. Because of the improved EAF, Eskom's expenditure on diesel (that powers OCGT) decreased substantially.

Between **1 April and October 2024**, Eskom spent **R5.92 billion** on OCGTs. **R17.43 billion** was spent during the same period last year.

As for getting a slice of that diesel budget—tempting as it is to dream about fueling up on Eskom's dime—we can all appreciate that these savings contribute to a more stable and efficient power supply for everyone. But… we’re not sure if anyone actually asked Eskom about this? If you’re reading this, Eskom, some funding would be nice 😉

[![][image4]](https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/esp-ocgt.png)

**In September there was an increase in OCGT usage.** Diesel Engine goes Brrrrr\! A few factors contributed to the increased OCGT usage, with the main contributor being an unplanned outage of Eskom’s Koeberg Unit 1 on 11 September 2024: during a routine test, a valve failed, which led to the reactor being safely shut down. That’s why we say **loadshedding is not gone yet**\!

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### **Is EskomSePush okay?**

We’re happy that loadshedding is taking a well-deserved break, and we’re even more excited to see so many of you staying connected with **ESP Chats**\! With around 300,000 of you joining daily, our community is growing strong. We can’t wait to keep building the must-have South African app and growing our community together.

The future looks bright\! 🌞

❤️*The EskomSePush Team*

*PS: We launched free\* ESP wallpapers! [Check them out](/wallpapers).*

*Sources: [Eskom](https://www.eskom.co.za/category/news/) and [https://unofficialeskom.com](https://unofficialeskom.com)*

*Contact us [support@esp.info](mailto:support@esp.info?subject=200%20Days%20)*

[image1]: https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/streak.png
[image2]: https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/esp-chat.png
[image3]: https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/eaf.png
[image4]: https://cdn.esp.info/static/200days/esp-ocgt.png
