Not all doom gloom and darkness for local businesses during Eskom power cuts
FOURWAYS - Khulu Phasiwe Eskom spokesperson, claims from 16 December power cuts will be at a minimal.
Phasiwe said this is due to the majority of businesses closing over this Christmas season. He said as a result, risk of load shedding will be low over this period. Phasiwe said generators are the best option for businesses that are worried about the negative effects that the continuous power cuts pose.
Billy The Bums manager Teilo Wait said, “Effects of load shedding have had little effect on the business.” He said the spate of power cuts experienced in recent days had little effects because they often occur during the day. Wait said the venue which is equipped with a generator and gas stoves has actually experienced a surge of customers from neighbouring restaurants who were not as prepared.
When asked whether there were alternative measures for smaller businesses who were unable to incur the cost of buying a generator could take, Phasiwe was unable to give a straight answer and said, refer to, “The government website”.
Phasiwe did, however, comment on Eskom Megawatt Park’s reduction of their power consumption. The building is equipped with solar panels that sustain it. He assured community members that over the Christmas season the building will not remain lit as motion sensors that trigger the lights will switch only when movement is detected and this will ensure consumption is kept at a low.
Phasiwe urged the community as a whole to consider investing in a similar system and not keeping their lights on at all times. He said it is a good way to ward off any potential burglars who might be scared off by the motion sensors.
He said load shedding patterns such as those that have been experienced in the last two weeks should be expected over the next two to three years. He did however assure that entire portions of Fourways will not be left in total darkness. The load shedding will instead be rotational, and rationed between certain parts of the suburb. This will, according to Phasiwe, be implemented in two-hour time frames per section to ensure that an entire portion does not experience endless power cuts.
