INFOGRAPHIC: Appliances to switch off when saving electricity
Familiarise yourself with the energy consumption of your appliances. Switching off unnecessary appliances can reduce the demand on the power system.
People across South Africa are infuriated with Eskom, as the power utility has again resorted to daily load-shedding because of a shortage of power grid capacity.
Load shedding is a measure of last resort to prevent the collapse of the power system countrywide. When there is insufficient power station capacity to supply the demand (load) from all the customers, the electricity system becomes unbalanced, which can cause it to have a blackout countrywide.
By switching off parts of the network in a planned and controlled manner, the system remains stable throughout the day, and the impact is spread over a wider base of customers.
ALSO READ: Brace yourselves for stage 4 load shedding
Energy experts have warned that South Africa could be in the dark for several years as Eskom battles coal shortages and high maintenance costs.
They have also indicated that Eskom’s load shedding and financial problems could drag the country into a “death spiral”.
A report recently stated that coal shortages will continue until 2025, with close to 80% of Eskom power generation currently relying on coal.
ALSO READ: Things you need to know about the Eskom shutdown
Eskom has asked households to use electricity sparingly and has provided an infographic of the typical electricity usage per appliance for an hour.
Familiarise yourself with the energy consumption of your appliances. Switching off unnecessary appliances can reduce the demand on the power system.
City Power has gone one better by providing a calculator showing which appliances use the most electricity.
To calculate just how much electricity your home uses, it enables you to select the number of appliances, and the number of hours it is used.
Find the calculator here:
https://www.citypower.co.za/customers/Pages/calculator.aspx
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