We need to learn how to get by when South Africa’s rolling blackouts begin. Here are some smart hacks South Africans can apply to survive the outages.
South Africans face level 6 load-shedding that could last for up to 4 or more hours. These power outages are an energy crisis that is affecting the economic growth of the country. We can all do our part to improve a sluggish economy in this difficult time. This means dealing with the extended power cuts in South Africa.
How? Keep your business going in spite of ongoing power cuts with backup power and alternative energy. Let’s work together to reduce the impact of load shedding. It starts by knowing in advance when the power will be cut.
Everyone Needs an Effective Power Cut Schedule
A power cut schedule might seem tired, but it is something everyone in South Africa needs. Ensure you bookmark the link to the EskomSePush App. With more load shedding in South Africa, the country needs to know the extent of the power crisis we face.
What is the EskomSePush App and How Does it Work?
EskomSePush is an easy app to download. It will notify you when the power goes off, although it is not 100% reliable. The reason is the national grid experiences overloading. This affects the schedule changes in the blink of an eye.
Simply type in your area to get the relevant information for your area. The app is an essential service to all and is free.
Bookmark and save the relevant links to power schedules. Don’t get caught unaware. Get informed and get smart.
Ensure everyone in your office or at home has access to load shedding schedules. The app will inform you when to expect outages, and for how long, and what stage load shedding we can expect.
Electricity Crisis in South Africa
South Africa’s electricity crisis has reached a breaking point, with load shedding becoming a daily nightmare for its citizens. The country’s aging coal infrastructure, primarily consisting of a fleet of coal power stations, is struggling to keep up with the rising demand for electricity, leading to a crippling power crisis that has left business owners and ordinary South Africans in despair.
For years, coal-fired power stations have been the backbone of South Africa’s electricity generation, but their reliability is now in question as they frequently experience breakdowns and power outages. The national grid is under immense strain, causing hours a day of scheduled power cuts that disrupt daily life and hamper economic activities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has inherited this daunting challenge from his predecessor, President Jacob Zuma, who failed to address the deteriorating state of the power utility Eskom and the country’s generating capacity. The electricity minister and government officials are working tirelessly to find solutions, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges.
South Africa urgently needs to diversify its energy sources and invest in modern power plants to alleviate the electricity crisis. President Ramaphosa’s administration is pushing for renewable energy projects to complement the existing coal infrastructure, aiming to reduce the country’s reliance on aging coal and mitigate the recurring power cuts that have plagued South Africa for far too long. Investing in a power generator of sorts has now become standard practice for most South Africans.
How to Keep the Power On for Your Home or Business during Extended Powercuts in South Africa
Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are a long-term investment that can supply you with power when the grid is unreliable. You can pair it with a battery bank to get round-the-clock electricity supply.
Use Power Banks
A power bank is a portable battery. The function of a power bank is to recharge electronic devices during power failures. Power banks come in a wide range of sizes.
They range from slim, pocket-sized banks to large high-power devices. You can use power banks for charging a wide range of electronics. As we experience the worst power cuts yet, power banks prove invaluable.
Investing in a Generator
Invest in backup generators to service your devices during the worst blackouts. You can get an entry-level backup generator at a relatively affordable cost.
Plan Meals Around Load Shedding
Note power cut schedules and plan your cooking around them. You might not always get it 100% right. But mostly you can organise feeding around power cuts.
Stock up on easy meals and food that need little effort or power to prepare. Summer is the perfect excuse to eat healthily. Adding more salads, fresh fruit, and vegetables to your diet is both healthy and not reliant on power.
Use Gas Instead of Power from the Grid
Gas cylinders for heating food and cooking are an excellent investment. The right equipment, such as a gas stove or geyser will help with cooking, bathing, and even lighting a room.
Gas heaters are another smart investment. This saves you money, plus it is a handy alternative to heating your home or office. Gas is a great way to overcome extended power cuts in South Africa.
8 Hints to Help Keep You Going During Outages
- Backup battery systems and equipment are a must. These are not luxury items. They should give you enough power to keep functioning for a couple of hours. They can include UPS systems and inverters, among others.
- LED lights with USB ports will help charge phones with a simple USB cable and give you easy lighting.
- Working around the load shedding schedule saves a lot of trouble and frustration.
- If you are a business owner working with perishables, you should only buy what you need. Excess stock could easily spoil, especially when the weather warms up.
- A fireplace is a great way to keep your environment warm and save money on your utility bill.
- Ensure your automated alarms, doors, and gates keep functioning with battery back-up systems.
- Fill a huge thermos flask with boiling water before outages. Every time you switch the kettle on, you use a lot of power.
- Prevent food from spoiling. An ice box with ice blocks will keep freezer food fresh for a long time. Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer frequently during outages. This will stop cold air from escaping.
About Security and Power Cuts in South Africa
Security is an important factor to consider. South Africa has a high crime rate. Many businesses and individuals have electric fences and alarm systems.
Often these run off the power utility. You need to find out whether your insurance service provider pays out for burglaries during outages. Some may require these electrical systems to be online in order for your claim to be valid.
Read the fine print on your insurance schedule. Your insurance company often stipulates you activate your alarm at all times. In theory, insurance providers could refute your claim if burgled during outages.
House contents policies might cover items lost during outages. Speak to your broker to clarify this point. If it is a problem, consider alternative power for your security systems that can remain online during load shedding.
Virtual Sense is Here to Help South Africans Survive Extended power cuts in South Africa
South Africa’s load shedding is here to stay. The economic impact is frightening, but there is hope. Business productivity can continue with a couple of smart hacks and tweaks. Get that battery bank, invest in generators and inverters. Overcome the extended power cuts in South Africa effectively.
Solar is another clever way to make dark period lighter. South Africans are renowned for being resourceful. This is no exception.