Load shedding, the deliberate and temporary interruption of power to different areas of the country to help manage demand and prevent a total grid collapse, has been a frustrating reality for many South Africans. Cape Town is no exception, and while it's a crucial step for Eskom to keep the lights on for longer, consumers continue to feel the impact of power outages. In this blog, we’ll explore what load shedding is, how it has affected Cape Town, and tips to prepare for it. Finally, we'll introduce Loadshedding.com, a solution that makes load shedding much easier to manage. Understanding Load Shedding Load shedding is a deliberate measure used by Eskom, the national power utility, to manage the pressure on the national power grid during times of high demand. Faced with ageing infrastructure, high usage by consumers, and a lack of progress in new power station building projects, Eskom has been forced to restrict its electricity supply. Instead of allowing the system to collapse entirely, it implements scheduled power outages in different areas of the country. The stage of the load shedding indicates the severity of the power deficit and intensity of the load reduction. Cape Town and Load Shedding Load shedding has had a significant impact on life in Cape Town, with people living in the city and the surrounding areas often experiencing several hours without power, on a rolling schedule. This is particularly challenging for residents who rely on electricity for essential services such as medical equipment, home security, and internet connectivity for work or studies. Retail, business, and commercial operations are also affected, resulting in loss of income and a severe drop in productivity. Thankfully several solutions can help residents tackle the situation. Tips for Load Shedding 1. Keep a Schedule: Visit Loadshedding.com to find out which schedule your area is on, as these can change from time to time. This will help you prepare, and get the most out of power supply during times of no outages. 2. Make a Plan: Create a plan that outlines the different chores, tasks and work that need specific power consumption levels. You can then schedule these for times when power is likely to be available, allowing you to keep living as normally as possible throughout the day, and achieve as much as you can in the time you have. 3. Use Alternative Power Sources: Instead of relying on Eskom, purchase or rent an alternative portable or standby generator to power essential appliances and medical equipment during load shedding. Other options include investing in rechargeable batteries, or energy-saving alternatives such as solar, wind, and biomass solutions. 4. Stay Safe: During load shedding or power outages, it's essential to stay safe and vigilant. Be sure to follow all safety instructions, switch off all electrical appliances not in use to avoid electrical surges, and never use open flames indoors, such as candles, as they pose a fire hazard. 5. Be Patient: Lastly, remember that load shedding is temporary, and will pass. Be patient, work together with others in your community, and join hands to support one another or with local community forums for assistance or ideas. Loadshedding.com - A Convenient Solution Loadshedding.com, an online app that is simple to use, is one of the most convenient solutions available for dealing with load shedding in Cape Town. As the load shedding schedule can change, the app sends a notification when the schedule has been altered or moved onto a new stage, ensuring that you are always informed in real-time. It also allows you to check immediately if the power is out in your area, eliminating guesswork and allowing you to plan accordingly. You can easily see when the next load shedding cycle will take place in your area, making it possible to schedule around it. Importantly, loadshedding.com is free to use for all, making it a reliable and low-cost option for anyone that is affected by load shedding.
,

Load Shedding In Cape Town: Tips and Solutions

Load shedding, the deliberate and temporary interruption of power to different areas of the country to help manage demand and prevent a total grid collapse, has been a frustrating reality for many South Africans. Cape Town is no exception,…
Best of Cape Awards by KFM
, , , , , ,

Best of Cape Awards by KFM

It’s time to get excited Cape Town! Kfm 94.5 has officially announced the winners for its 2022 Best of Cape Awards! Photo credit: Kfm The 2022 Kfm Best of the Cape Awards is the BIGGEST Awards Show of the year! The Kfm Best…
Cape Town named third greatest city on Earth
, , , ,

Cape Town named third greatest city on Earth

The Mother City does it again! Cape Town has been named the third greatest city on Earth by the flagship UK newspaper, The Telegraph, out ranking top international travel destinations and global heavy hitters like New York, Paris,…
, , , , , ,

How to celebrate Garden Day

With all the hype about Garden Day coming up, we thought it was best to ask proud plant parent @shaedy.pots to share some tips and ideas for how to spend the day. This year Garden Day is celebrated on Sunday the 17th of October. The day…
Juliet Crew - South Africa’s first all-female firefighting team
, , ,

Juliet Crew: South Africa’s first all-female firefighting team

The Juliet Crew is South Africa’s first all-female firefighting team. Together with various brave firefighting squads, this team of trailblazing women played a major role in fighting the devastating and destructive Cape Town fire along the…
SANParks National Parks
, , , , , , ,

SANParks accommodation opens to intra-provincial residents

Photo credit: South African National Parks Welcome back to the wild nature lovers! South African National Parks (SANParks) announced on the 4th of August 2020 that accommodation in most parks will be open as from 14 August 2020 to intra-provincial…
Red Bus Tour Cape Town
, , , , ,

City Sightseeing Red Bus to re-start operations during Lockdown

The famous City Sightseeing Red Bus has not only established itself as one of the most sought-after Cape Town experiences, but a real icon of the tourism landscape. While Cape Town’s renowned Red Bus has been closed for business since the…
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
, , , , , ,

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway opens for hikers

Since SANParks announced the reopening of the Table Mountain National Park, allowing hiking activity to resume in accordance with the Lockdown Alert Level 3 regulations, Table Mountain has experienced a massive influx of hikers all looking…
Cape Point Western Cape
, , , , , ,

SANParks Opens Cape Point for self-drive day excursions

**Note: This article was last updated on 02/08/2020 as per current Lockdown Alert Level 3 guidelines. It is therefore subject to change in accordance with future Lockdwon regulations. We’ve got some exciting news for all nature lovers…