The threat of load-shedding will hover like a fabled Dickensian ghost over the December holiday period and into the New Year. State-owned electricity utility Eskom has also warned that the risk of rotational cuts will rise further should there be persistent rain in the Mpumalanga region, where most of its 15 coal-fired power stations are located. This is partly because of the difficulties of keeping coal dry and in a context of extremely low stock levels, which have fallen below the 20-day prescribed minimum at ten power stations. Wet coal is difficult to handle and harder to burn.