The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has assured stakeholders of a stable power supply throughout the festive season.
In a statement issued yesterday, ZESA Holdings stated, “We are projecting a stable power supply environment this December, with minimal system constraints and load management. Several interventions have significantly strengthened the national grid.
This positive outlook is largely due to key interventions, the most significant being anticipated improved plant availability at Hwange Stage 1 and 2, and Kariba Power Station,” the power utility added.
It noted that the increased availability at the two major power stations was being supported by electricity generated from Independent Power Producers.
ZESA Holdings said domestic generation is further being augmented through imports secured on the Southern African Power Pool Market, which has helped to narrow the supply gap.
“This increased domestic generation is augmented by securing additional energy through imports from the Southern African Power Pool Market,” the utility said.
The power utility added that demand-side factors are also expected to ease pressure on the grid during the holiday period, as many industries scale down operations.
“Furthermore, we expect reduced demand resulting from industrial shutdowns, which will ease pressure on the grid,” ZESA Holdings noted.
According to the utility, the combined impact of improved generation, imports and lower demand is expected to result in fewer power cuts.
“These efforts are expected to reduce the supply shortfall, leading to minimal load shedding during the festive period,” the statement said.
ZESA Holdings also outlined measures put in place to ensure quick response to any power-related challenges during the holidays. The utility said customer support and technical response teams will remain fully operational throughout the festive season.
“Our 24-hour National Contact Centre will be fully operational throughout the entire festive season. In addition, technical teams will be on standby for all faults and emergencies to ensure rapid restoration of supply where disruptions occur,”the Utility added
The power utility said it remains committed to ensuring a reliable electricity supply as the country enters the festive period, adding that the measures in place are aimed at supporting households, businesses and essential services to enjoy a “bright holiday” with minimal disruptions.
The assurance comes amid heightened electricity demand typically associated with the festive season, when households rely heavily on power for cooking, refrigeration and entertainment.
