Should Eskom run out of diesel and water, South Africans could be slapped with stage 6 load shedding.

This is the warning issued by the power utility as its struggling to balance its limited resources, including a shortfall of diesel. This morning, Eskom announced an upgrade to stage 4 load shedding from stage 2.

“The utility is in its fourth day of extremely high diesel usage, with emergency reserves being depleted faster than it can be replenished,” said Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer.

Meanwhile, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has called for a complete overhaul of Eskom’s electricity pricing system.

It follows the power utility requesting to increase tariffs to cover its losses due to the poor economic growth.

OUTA’s Liz McDaid says there is a need for a fixed price trajectory over the next three to five years.

“Eskom needs to plan, just like any other business. And if they don’t make revenue they need to head back to the drawing board and implement changes that will allow them to meet their targets,” said McDaid .