How to deal with load shedding

What is load shedding?
Load-shedding is:

• When there is not enough electricity available to meet the demand from all Eskom customers, it could be necessary to interrupt supply to certain areas. This is called load shedding. It is different from a power outage that could occur for several other reasons.
• It is a last resort to balance electricity supply and demand. We will only apply load-shedding when all other options have been exhausted.
• It is an effective way to avoid total collapse of the electricity supply grid (a national black-out) which will have disastrous outcomes for South Africa. If unbalances on the power is not managed this could lead to the risk of collapse of the entire power network. If this occurs, it could take more than a week to restore power to the entire country. By rotating and shedding the load in a planned and controlled manner, the system remains stable.

Before load-shedding is applied, Eskom makes use of:

• Gas and hydro options
• Contracted and voluntary options with certain large customers to reduce their demand.
• If all these measures have been exhausted and demand still cannot be met, Eskom will proceed with load-shedding.

Load shedding is a process whereby:

• Eskom’s National Control Centre instructs its Distribution Regional Control Centres, 126 Municipalities and Eskom’s key Industrial Customers on the Megawatts to be shed.
• Eskom (Regional Distributor) and Municipalities execute these instructions by switching off individual areas for predetermined times as per published schedules

The duration of load-shedding will depend on the specific Eskom region or on the Municipality; based on local circumstances.

Many people are unsure how load shedding works or misinterpret the times, schedules and stages.
Stages are developed and based on the possibility of risk and to ensure that it is applied in a fair and equitable manner:

• Stage 1 allows for up to 1000 MW of the national load to be shed.
• Stage 2 allows for up to 2000 MW of the national load to be shed.
• Stage 3 allows for up to 4000 MW of the national load to be shed.

Please help us beat the peak by following 4 actions for 4 hours:

• Switching off your geysers, electric heaters and pool pumps from 5pm to 9pm every day
• Switching off unnecessary appliances and lighting
• Look at alternative heating solutions
• Responding to the Power Alerts and Power Bulletin updates

Here are some useful tips to minimise inconvenience in the event of load shedding:

Think about communication:
Ensure your cellphone is always fully charged when power is available.

Think about transport:
Ensure your vehicle (car, bakkie, motorcycle, etc) always has fuel in the tank because petrol stations cannot pump fuel during power outages.

Think about cash:
Ensure you have enough cash because ATMs cannot operate without electricity.

Think about access, security and safety:

1. Release automatic electric garage door mechanisms so you can gain access to your property during a power outage.
2. Release electric security gates and switch to manual operation to avoid being either locked out of or in your home.
3. Keep temporary lighting readily available, e.g. battery-powered torches and candles. Make sure you put these items in places where they will be easy to find in the dark.
4. Keep a torch (with fresh batteries) by your bedside at all times.
5. Get a small LP gas lamp, as it gives good quality lighting for a large area.

Think about keeping things cool and heating them up:

1. Boil water and keep it in thermos flasks for hot drinks for when the power is scheduled to be switched off.
2. Use an insulating cover on teapots and other pots and pans to keep drinks hot, and meals warm.
3. Prepare meals beforehand in case of power cuts.
4. Obtain a small, stand-by bottled LP gas heating ring for essential cooking and to boil water for hot beverages.
5. Keep adequate stocks of essential foodstuffs.
6. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A power outage lasting four hours should not cause food spoilage, and a freezer should keep frozen food safe for at least a day. It is a good idea to have alternative snacks available that do not need refrigeration.
7. Most medication requiring refrigeration can be kept in a closed fridge for several hours without spoiling (check with your doctor or pharmacist to be sure).
8. Fill plastic containers with water (still leaving some space inside each container for expansion during freezing) in a deep freeze or the freezer compartment of your fridge. This frozen bottled water will help keep food cold during a power outage.

What you must remember:
Eskom has the right to change the stages with minimum or no prior notification based on the network conditions.

The municipal areas of supply can vary due to the ring feed configurations.

Loadshedding explained

Don’t have any candles?

D.I.Y endless hot water without electricity

Click here for your printable load shedding schedule.