LOAD-SHEDDING: Schedules, info, and how it affects you

JOHANNESBURG - South Africans have been urged to reduce electricity consumption so as to lessen the need for -- and impact of -- load-shedding. 

Schedules can be found on Eskom's site; simply type in your suburb to find out if you are affected. 

INFOGRAPHIC: Load-shedding explained

• Stage 1: Requires the least amount of load-shedding (up to 1,000 MW) and can be implemented three times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or three times over an eight-day period for 4 hours at a time.
• Stage 2:  Will double the frequency of Stage 1, which means you will be scheduled for load-shedding six times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or six times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
• Stage 3: Will increase the frequency of Stage 2 by 50 percent, which means you will be scheduled for load-shedding nine times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or nine times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
• Stage 4: Will double the frequency of Stage 2, which means you will be scheduled for load-shedding 12 times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or 12 times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.

EXPLAINER: Why South Africa’s energy generator is in so much trouble

If you don't pay your electricity bill directly to Eskom but to a municipal electricity supplier like City Power in Johannesburg, you need to visit your city's utility website to get load-shedding information. 

Municipality information

For load-shedding schedules affecting the City of Johannesburg, you can visit www.citypower.co.za, or call 086 056 2874, or follow them on Twitter @CityPowerJhb. 

For load-shedding schedules affecting the City of Tshwane, you can visit www.tshwane.gov.za, or call (012) 358-2111 / (012) 427-2111, or follow them on Twitter @CityTshwane. 

For load-shedding schedules affecting the City of Cape Town, you can visit www.capetown.gov.za or this page, or call 0860 103 089, or follow them on Twitter @CityofCT. 

For load shedding schedules affecting the City of eThekwini, you can visit www.durban.gov.za, or call 080 13 13 111, or follow them on Twitter @eThekwiniM. 

If you live in the Mangaung Metro Municipality, you can visit www.mangaung.co.za, or call 0800 111 300. You can also visit http://www.centlec.co.za or call 086 007 6937.