INCREASED POWER OUTAGES

Zesa Holdings through its subsidiary  the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company is currently experiencing power supply constraints due to the depressed generation at Hwange

Power Station.

The station is currently running one unit producing 90MW, with a second unit being synchronized Tuesday night. This situation has resulted in most of the consumers in various areas country-wide

enduring longer periods of load shedding due to the supply constraints.

Load shedding is a power rationing measure that is applied to ensure that the available and scarce electricity resource is adequately shared by all consumers. It is normally applied at peak periods

as a way of limiting consumption and relieving pressure on the national electricity grid.

The publicized load-shedding schedule is premised on the assumption that we are running three units at Hwange Power station and all the units at Kariba Power station. Any variation from this condition

means that we are unable to adhere to the schedule.

In situations of supply constraints, it is natural for consumers to feel that there is preferential treatment of load shedding with some consumers going for shorter periods and vice versa.

Zesa attempts to ensure that the process is done as fairly a possible and as transparently as possible. All incidents of favoritism and corruption are looked into and customers are encouraged to

report all cases of suspected corruption to  pr@zesa.co.zw.

The power supply situation is expected to improve by the end of the week where the duration of load shedding will subsequently ease as additional generation capacity is introduced.

Zesa Holdings is augmenting the available internal electricity generation with imports, and customers are urged to utilize the available electricity very sparingly.

Zesa apologise to all its customers for the inconveniences they are currently facing as a result of loading shedding, and assures them that everything possible is being done to ensure that power

supplies are returned to normal.

Fullard Gwasira

Corporate Communications Manager Harare