ANNOUNCEMENT:
HOUT BAY BEACH COTTAGE HAS A POWER BACK UP!
During load shedding our lights stay on, WIFI stays on, TV’s are working, security systems operate, phone and laptops can be charged and more!
WHAT IS LOAD SHEDDING?
Load shedding is a measure of last resort aimed at preventing a total national blackout out of power. Load shedding aims to spread outages fairly, by interrupting the supply to certain areas at various times during the day and/or night. It’s shedding the load of electricity in a systematic and controlled way. Load shedding is implemented as an emergency for short periods – mostly over two hours, but sometimes for four-hour periods per day.
WHAT ARE THE LOAD SHEDDING STAGES?
Depending on the shortage of power supply capacity, there are various outage stages, Stages 1-8. Stage 8 is the highest level of outages amounting up to 12 hours per day. Normally outages range from Stage 2 to Stage 4 in any given day, which means two to four hours of outages per day.
HOW TO KNOW WHEN LOAD SHEDDING IS PLANNED
Before power cuts take place, Eskom (South Africa’s primary electricity supplier) will send out load shedding timetables to the country’s metros and municipalities. The City of Cape Town then updates these on its website and begins power cuts as per Eskom’s given schedules. There is often little notice before blackouts. Changes in stages frequently happen during load shedding often without less than 30 minutes notice, making it difficult to plan and predict. To view the current load shedding status visit the City of Cape Town website.
For more information on time tables, check the City of Cape Town’s load shedding schedule and timetable.
DOWNLOAD THE LOAD SHEDDING MONITORING APP
To get accurate information on when the power will be off, we recommend downloading the electricity load shedding app: EskomsePush. This handy mobile app will tell you when load shedding is expected in a clear and easy to understand schedule. Hout Bay is in Zone 11. This useful load shedding app gives notifications when changes in the schedule occur. The app is available on the Google Play and Apple Stores and is free to use.
PROVISIONS AT HOUT BAY BEACH COTTAGE DURING LOAD SHEDDING
We have an 3kva 3000w inverter installed which switches automatically on if power is not on. This means that:
- all outdoor and indoor fitted lights will work during load shedding
- TV’s and DSTV decoders are operating
- WIFI operates (fibre fast speed)
- a dedicated plug in the living room is available during load shedding, to charge laptops, cellphones, etc.
- plugs in master bedroom remain on for charging laptops, bedside lights etc.
- the garage motor for garage door is still operational during load shedding
The kitchen appliances won’t work during load shedding. The gas stove can still operate when there is no electricity. Just ignite the gas with a lighter or matches provided instead of the igniter. There is an old fashioned kettle for the gas stove to boil and pour water for coffee (plunger) and tea.
The security alarm system works on batteries and will still operate during electricity outages.
There is also wood burning fire place for heat and a Weber braai for cooking.
PRACTICAL TIPS TO PREPARE FOR LOAD SHEDDING
Always have your load shedding schedule and timetable ready to know when to expect power cuts in the area. The City keeps its load shedding status updated.
Some practical tips include:
- Fill your petrol tank as petrol stations are also affected by load shedding.
- Keep some cash on you as ATM’s do not operate without electricity.
- Plan meals that can be made with the gas stove and don’t require oven or microwave.
- Most traffic lights do not work during load shedding. The default traffic rule is to treat the intersection as you would for a stop sign. The first vehicle to stop at the intersection gets priority and may proceed first. Be mindful and pay careful attention when continuing as not everybody is aware of the rules.
- In the cities, traffic may congest quickly when the traffic lights are not working, plan alternative routes to your destination and allow for extra travel time.
- If you are planning an outing, pre-download the directions to the destination. During load shedding, mobile networks are often not able to cope with the data demand and Google Maps or Internet access via mobile data may be unavailable.
- If you know load shedding is expected, be mindful of the best time to choose to go up Table Mountain; there have been incidents where tourists were stranded on top of Table Mountain as the Cable Car was not operating due to load shedding
IS THERE LOAD SHEDDING EVERY DAY IN SOUTH AFRICA?
No. The electricity supply in South Africa generally runs as normal and generally there is no load shedding for months at the time. Load shedding is only implemented during emergencies, when there are technical problems with one or more of the larger power stations. Sometimes the load shedding only lasts for a few days, sometimes for a few weeks. In 2022 the longest period of load shedding in history in South Africa is recorded. Cape Town is generally less severely affected than the rest of the country as they have additional supplies.
ARE THE SHOPS OPEN DURING LOAD SHEDDING?
Many shops will close their doors during load shedding. Some more prominent retailers and restaurants run on generators and can stay operational. Most supermarkets in Hout Bay including Spar Hout Bay on Victoria Road have a generator and continue to operate.
WHAT CAUSES LOAD SHEDDING?
Load shedding and local power outages are not the same thing. Local power outages result from technical faults, such as in the case of theft of cables and overload of circuits.
What is the underlying cause for the need of load shedding in the first place? In summary: lack of planning to meet electricity demand and lack of planning and implementing of maintenance and lack of adequate contingency plans for the unplanned breakdown of power stations. Several issues challenge Eskom. This includes debt, liquidity and financial sustainability, corruption, lack of skills, people issues, ensuring adequate coal supplies, declining generation plant performance and the list continues. There are many speculations about conspiracy theories related to sabotage and political motives. Many news articles are available online regarding these speculations. It is worth reading the news articles in effort to dig deeper into understanding what led to the problems Eskom is facing.
LOAD SHEDDING AND SOUTH AFRICAN HUMOUR
For the people in South Africa frustrations run high when load shedding occurs; however, South Africans have developed a sense of humour about it. Funny jokes, memes and hilarious video’s using hashtags such as #loadshedding and #Eskom go viral quickly at such times. Humour is their way to deal with the absurdity.
Here are a few examples of such humour in attempt to keep smiling even when the lights are out.
