Midrand is City Power territory, not Eskom. That changes the schedule and the options. Here is how load shedding actually works in Midrand and Waterfall City.
A common mistake when moving to Midrand is downloading the Eskom Se Push app and being confused when the schedule does not match actual outages. Midrand falls under City Power, which follows its own schedule. When Eskom implements national load shedding, City Power reduces supply to its network and then applies its own block rotation.
How City Power load shedding differs from Eskom
- City Power publishes its own stage-based schedule, separate from Eskom's national rotation
- During Stage 2: City Power applies approximately 4 hours off per 24-hour period
- During Stage 4: approximately 8 hours off per day, in two slots
- The schedule rotates on a 4-day cycle across City Power zones
- Midrand and Waterfall City fall under City Power Zone 3
- Zone 3's morning slot is typically 06:00 to 08:30; the evening slot is 18:00 to 20:30 depending on stage
What to use to track Midrand outages
The most reliable tool is the City Power app or the City Power outage map at citypower.co.za. The Eskom Se Push app does include City Power schedules but can lag by 30 to 60 minutes on status updates. For real-time fault reporting (as distinct from scheduled load shedding), the City Power fault line is 0860 562 874.
Ellipse Waterfall and Waterfall Country Estate: backup power
Ellipse Waterfall has centralised backup power for common areas but individual units are not covered unless owners have installed their own inverter or UPS. Waterfall Country Estate has a generator for gatehouse and security infrastructure only. Individual homes require their own solutions.
Practical note for renters
Before signing a lease in Midrand, ask the landlord whether the unit has an inverter or any backup power. Many newer sectional title units in Waterfall City and Kyalami include a basic inverter. This should be in the property description. If it is not listed, ask.
Stage equivalents: what Midrand residents actually experience
City Power load shedding impact by stage. Approximate durations for Zone 3 (Midrand/Waterfall). Source: City Power published schedule.
| Stage | Hours off per day | Typical slots | What residents report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 2 hours | 1 slot, varies by day | Manageable with basic UPS |
| Stage 2 | 4 hours | 2 slots | Inverter recommended |
| Stage 3 | 6 hours | 2 to 3 slots | Solar or generator preferred |
| Stage 4 | 8 hours | 3 slots | Without backup: material lifestyle disruption |
Published April 5, 2026