First introduced in 2007, load shedding is effectively a scheduled power outage intended to reduce pressure on power stations when energy demand exceeds supply.
Scheduled rolling blackouts are intended to prevent even worse energy crises and minimise inconvenience to consumers and businesses. However, the disruption caused by load shedding is widely despised. 2022 has been South Africa’s worst-ever year for load shedding. According to EskomSePush, as of October 3, 2022, the country has experienced 1,949 hours over 81 days of national load shedding.
What Can You Do to Be Ready for Load Shedding?
The best thing you can do to prepare for load shedding is to invest in an off-grid power solution. Depending on the backup power option you choose, you can do everything from keeping a few essentials, like your mobile phone, charged and ready, to running your entire home like load shedding never happened.
A small battery pack for keeping a few personal devices charged is a must for any home, as you never want to be left without cellphone service in case of an emergency. But if you really want to minimise — or even eliminate — the disruption of load shedding and power blackouts altogether, you’ll need a much more powerful option.
Portable power stations (PPS) are essentially giant batteries where you can store electricity for use later as a backup. A PPS provides your devices and appliances with electricity when the power grid is offline. You can recharge the PPS using mains electricity when the power is still on to prepare for the next scheduled load shedding (or unscheduled blackout.)
Depending on your power consumption needs, both the DELTA and RIVER portable power stations can help you maintain power during load shedding or unscheduled blackouts.
Portable power stations (PPS) are essentially giant batteries where you can store electricity for use later as a backup. A PPS provides your devices and appliances with electricity when the power grid is offline. You can recharge the PPS using mains electricity when the power is still on to prepare for the next scheduled load shedding (or unscheduled blackout.)
Depending on your power consumption needs, both the DELTA and RIVER portable power stations can help you maintain power during load shedding or unscheduled blackouts.
The DELTA portable power station (PPS) comes in three sizes: DELTA, Max, and Pro. The DELTA is the most compact but provides the least power output. The Pro is ideal for home backup and can keep even high-wattage appliances running during a load shedding outage. The DELTA PPS series can handle 90% of electronics, so you should be fully covered during load shedding.
The RIVER portable power station series includes the original, the Max, and the Pro. As with the DELTA range, the Pro features the highest power output, with a total of three 600W AC outlets and a 720Wh capacity. It can power up to ten devices simultaneously, despite weighing only 7.6kg. It's highly portable, powerful, and effective — exactly what you need during a scheduled blackout!
If you want to step up your off-grid power capabilities even further, consider investing in a solar generator. Solar generators take the energy storage benefits of portable power stations to the next level, allowing you to generate your own electricity using solar energy — independent from the grid.
With solar generators and panels, you can generate and store solar power all day long — no matter the stage of load shedding. You can supplement your backup power supply by plugging your EcoFlow solar generator into a standard AC wall outlet before the electricity goes out.
If you want to step up your off-grid power capabilities even further, consider investing in a solar generator. Solar generators take the energy storage benefits of portable power stations to the next level, allowing you to generate your own electricity using solar energy — independent from the grid.
With solar generators and panels, you can generate and store solar power all day long — no matter the stage of load shedding. You can supplement your backup power supply by plugging your EcoFlow solar generator into a standard AC wall outlet before the electricity goes out.
You can check scheduled load shedding in your area by looking at the official Eskom website, which lets you know when load shedding will occur and which areas it affects. Note that a blackout might not last for the entire scheduled period but just for a portion. On the other hand, outages frequently last longer than scheduled. There's also a guide for how to read the load-shedding schedule, as it can look a little complicated at first glance. Besides Eskom’s official website, you can check with your municipalities and metros for load shedding scheduled for your area.
Eskom currently designates eight stages of load shedding. Stage 1 is the least disruptive and generally means scheduled power outages of two hours a day over a four-day period or 4-hour outages scheduled over an eight-day period. Stage 8 would mean the average South African having electricity for only half of the day, with scheduled outages lasting 12 hours out of every 24. For much of 2022, Stage 3 and 4 load shedding has been in place for large areas of the country — leading to blackouts of 2 hours 12 times over four days or 4-hour blackouts 12 times over eight days. That means you are likely to be without power for a combined total of 24 hours in just under or over a week. Recently, Stage 6 load shedding (the highest stage yet reached) has been implemented across several provinces — leaving people without electricity for at least 6 hours a day. According to Business Tech, long periods of Stage 6 - Stage 8 load shedding are expected for 2023.
Mobile cell towers have battery backups, so cell networks are usually unaffected during load shedding. However, more frequent load shedding is leading to the batteries in mobile cell towers being depleted more frequently and subjected to increased wear and tear. Theft of cell tower backup batteries is also a growing problem. If Stage 6 load shedding becomes more frequent or Stage 7 or Stage 8 are reached in 2023 as predicted, widespread cellphone and mobile internet network disruptions are expected.
The South African energy crises began with the first implementation of load shedding — scheduled rolling blackouts — in 2007. For over 15 years, energy generation in South Africa has fallen short of demand, and it’s only getting worse. 2022 has been the worst year for load shedding — and South African electricity consumers — yet. The South African government has taken steps to increase the electricity supply by investing in additional power stations and generators. However, these efforts have yet to have any positive impact on the ongoing energy crisis.
Depending on your economic circumstance, absolutely. Solar generators and portable power stations are alternative energy solutions that provide an easy way to stay connected during a blackout. You can power your essential appliances and lighting during load shedding, and with solar generators, you can even save money on electricity bills.
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