Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. implemented a severe level of power cuts to prevent a total collapse of South Africa’s electricity grid on Friday.

“Due to the shortage of generating capacity and emergency reserves” the utility will implement so-called Stage 6 loadshedding, taking 6,000 megawatts off the system to prevent an overload of demand, it said in a statement. The return of this level of electricity rationing is a step backward for South Africa’s government that has prioritized stabilizing the system.

Eskom last reached Stage 6 in September as warmer weather in the southern hemisphere during the current months results in less electricity demand. That level is expected to last through Monday, the utility said.