Malawians should expect continued power cuts this week as the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) has announced the implementation of load shedding due to a shortfall in electricity generation.
The outages are expected to occur during morning, midday, and evening peak hours.
The power utility says the measures are necessary to balance the national grid and ensure fair distribution of electricity across all regions.
ESCOM noted that demand for electricity continues to rise while generation remains limited.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, total available generation capacity currently stands at 461.93 megawatts (MW) during the day and 374.25 MW at night.
Meanwhile, national demand is projected to peak at 414.83 MW during the evening hours.
The deficit between supply and demand has left ESCOM with no option but to ration electricity through scheduled load shedding.
The corporation also warned that cloudy and overcast weather conditions are expected to reduce solar power generation from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
This means that solar plants, which supplement national supply, may generate less electricity in the coming days.ESCOM further cautioned that if solar output drops significantly, unplanned load shedding could occur.
The company explained that weather patterns have a direct impact on the amount of power that can be fed into the grid.
Despite the challenges, the utility company has assured the public that it will apply load shedding fairly across all areas.
ESCOM emphasized that no region or customer group will be unfairly targeted.The corporation has also encouraged consumers to use electricity efficiently, particularly during peak hours.
It urged Malawians to switch off non-essential appliances to reduce pressure on the system.
In its statement, ESCOM apologized for the inconvenience caused by the ongoing power cuts.
The company thanked customers for their understanding and cooperation during this difficult period.
Looking ahead, ESCOM reaffirmed its commitment to stabilizing power supply and improving reliability as generation levels recover.
The corporation said efforts are underway to enhance generation capacity and reduce dependency on weather-sensitive sources.
