Load Shedding Tips

See a few of our tips below to ensure that you are not caught off guard:

• Ensure your cell phone is fully charged when the power is on and remember that you can charge your phone in your car if need be;
• Remember to switch off your oven if it was on when the power outage started;
• Invest in a small gas lamp for good-quality lighting over a large area;
• Prepare meals beforehand in case of a power outage;
• Invest in a small gas cooker for essential cooking and to boil water for hot drinks – make sure you have an extra bottle of gas;
• Keep frozen bottled water in your freezer to help keep food cold during prolonged power outages;
• Install solar powered security and garden lights and /or ensure house/premises alarm batteries are working;
• Installing a surge protection device can help minimise damage. Have a surge protection device fitted to your electrical distribution board and switch off all devices when not in use;
• Keep an extra key to your house with you in case your usual access to your house uses an electricity connection; and
• Loadshedding may result in alarm systems not operating correctly therefore check with your insurer if you are covered should you have a break in while the alarm is not powered.

With load shedding being implemented more frequently, it is crucial that we do our part to save electricity both at the office and at home. Any saved energy helps buy Eskom some time to refill pumped storage and diesel reserves, which helps reduce the chance of further load shedding. See our tips below:

• Switch off all lights when leaving the office;
• Please ensure windows are closed if the aircon is on;
• Switch the aircon off before leaving the office; 
• Stop the boiler from being an energy guzzler, save electricity by switching it off when you leave;
• Save electricity and paper by only printing what you need; and
• Please switch off your computer, plugs and chargers when leaving the office at the end of the day.
• When at home, switch off all appliances at the wall and pull-out chargers. This could save up to 6% on electricity costs;
• Turn down geyser temperatures to 60 degrees Celsius. This can save up to 5% on one’s electricity bill;
• Fit geysers with geyser blankets to prevent heat loss;
• Replace ordinary lightbulbs with energy-saving ones; and
• Set pool pumps to run for fewer hours.