Loadshedding survival guide
An ongoing severe shortage in electricity generation capacity means that Eskom’s loadshedding and the recently introduced load reductions are likely to be with us until 2025. There may be no way to avoid these power interruptions, but there are ways to reduce the hassle.
- Knowledge is power
Knowing when you’re scheduled to have loadshedding gives you the chance to plan, especially when loadshedding is implemented unexpectedly.
Keep an eye on your municipal and Eskom’s Twitter page or download a load shedding alert app on your smartphone such as EskomSePush or Load Shedding Notifier. - Charge while you can
Now that you know your loadshedding schedule, you can take the time to plug in all battery-operated electronics such as your phone, tablet and laptop. These will keep you and your family entertained until power is restored and enable you to communicate with family and friends.
Consider buying a power bank if your electronics run out of battery quickly. - Banish the darkness
Trying to track down the candles can feel like an impossible task when the lights are out and can even be dangerous if you are stumbling around without being able to see properly. Plan your night-time lighting requirements (don’t forget the kitchen and bathroom), including storing candles, lanterns, torches and/or battery-powered lights in each area for easy access.
Remember to keep matches and a stock of batteries on hand and be sure to charge lights with built-in batteries after each use. - Dealing with dining
Take the time to consider your food and refreshment requirements when the power goes out. If uncooked meals don’t appeal to you, consider buying a camping gas stove or taking the family outside for a braai if the weather is good.
A thermos flask can also come in handy, keeping hot water available for warm refreshments. Consider freezing bottles of water so that you can move them into the fridge to keep foodstuff cool until power is restored. - Protect your appliances
Appliances are often damaged by power surges when electricity is restored. Adding surge protectors to your power points will protect against damage. Alternatively, you can turn your plugs off at your electrical board and wait five minutes before restoring power to one grouping of plugs at a time. - Security still matters
Ensure your security features such as electric gates, garage doors, external lights and intruder alarms will still work even if the power is down. Have any built-in batteries checked regularly and take the time to learn how to change over to manual operations in case a power outage extends beyond the scheduled time.
Consider investing in solar lighting options outside your home so that you can monitor for any intruders trying to take advantage of the darkness. - Good to go
One of the things we tend to forget is the impact loadshedding schedules have on the roads. Remember that most petrol stations won’t be able to help you while their power is out, so make sure you have enough petrol to get you through the traffic.
Use your loadshedding app to plan your journeys to and from work so that you can avoid areas that will have traffic lights out or leave earlier to avoid the worst of traffic. - Power up
External power supplies such as UPSs, generators, solar power and battery backups may be expensive, but with loads of loadshedding still to come, it may be worth your while to invest now. Many suppliers are offering payment plans.
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