ACDC: Survive Load Shedding & Don’t Get Caught In The Dark

Survive load shedding and make the most of our top tips to keep you out of the dark this festive season!

What does it all mean?

With various stages and areas affected at different times, we share some useful info to give you insight on what it all means…

Stage 1: Eskom needs to shed 1000MW to keep the national grid stable.
Stage 1 is the least disruptive of the schedules. Your area is likely to be hit by 2.5-hour blackouts once every second day. Load shedding won’t take place overnight or on Sundays.

Stage 2: Eskom needs to shed 2000MW to keep the national grid stable.
Stage 2 involves double the amount of load shedding planned in Stage 1. Your area is likely to be hit by 2.5-hour blackouts once a day, Monday to Saturday between 05:30 and 21:00. Load shedding won’t take place overnight or on Sundays.

Stage 3: Eskom needs to shed up to 4000MW to keep the national grid stable.
Stage 3 involves double the amount of load shedding planned in Stage 2. Your area is likely to be hit by 2.5-hour blackouts up to three times a day. The load shedding will take place 24 hours per day and will also happen on Sundays.

Stage 4: Eskom needs to shed more than 4000MW to keep the national grid from collapsing.
Stage 4 is as bad as it gets in terms of load shedding. Eskom starts additional, unscheduled power cuts wherever it needs to and outside of its schedules. This means your area can be hit by blackouts at any time without any warning. The country hasn’t reached this stage since 2008.

Stage 4 load shedding is the final option for Eskom to prevent a national blackout.

Here are some useful tips to help you survive:

1. Invest in battery operated lighting. When you need it most, mobile lighting is essential during load shedding. Candles, lanterns, torches and solar-powered lights are great options.
2. Go Solar. Install a solar geyser, get solar lamps to put outside in the garden and take inside when the lights are out.
3. Invest in gas. Gas stoves are a popular choice not only because they are convenient but also a great solution when load shedding hits and you need to prepare a meal, boil water and more! There’s also the portable option: you can buy a camping gas stove. This way you can cook food or boil the kettle even if there’s no electricity.
4. Freeze bottled water as ice packs. Freeze plastic bottles with water and use these in your fridge to keep food cold during blackouts.
5. Invest in a generator. If you’re running a business or have medical needs that may require electricity, why not invest in a generator and ensure that you always have a back up plan. Often this is the more expensive option, but depending on your needs and your budget, getting a generator may be a good idea. You can get ones that will keep the entire house powered or smaller ones to just keep the fridge running and perhaps the tv on.

Don’t be fooled by load shedding. Invest in a back up plan and purchase a generator from AC/DC.

For more view their catalog online and visit AC/DC for more.