JOHANNESBURG - Eskom's proposed national standards paper, which could see the possibility of power cuts elevated to higher stages, does not necessarily mean this will be the case according to energy expert, Mark Swilling, who says the publication is just a new schedule, outlining details of what needs to happen should Eskom take us above stage 8.
He's predicting bleak winter months for South Africans.
The Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University Professor Mark Swilling said, "It's going to get worse, much worse during winter."
"The publication of this new schedule is more detailed instructions of what needs to happen above stage 8 and upwards that does not mean that we are going there."
"What is being made clear by Eskom management is high levels of uncertainty."
"We can't anticipate with a lot of certainty exactly what is going to happen tomorrow."
"We have to accept we are living with higher and higher levels of uncertainty. The new electricity minister has done what the minister of Mineral Resources has never done: to say that the power stations are a problem."
"[Mineral Resources Minister Gwede] Mantashe says that there is plenty of electricity on the grid Eskom just needs to switch it on."
"The electricity minister [Kgosientsho Ramokgopa] is being honest with the nation."