Evening load-shedding announced for this week

[dualmeister]

How many consecutive days now?

 

[jetlee]

Load shedding doesn't affect me so much. At work we have a generator, at home I make sure my laptop is charged and just watch movies during load shedding.

It's not so bad.

You don't find that view a little narrow minded ... Do all people have laptops, their kids, LTE to get internet, gas stoves to cook on, a safe environment just outside in the dark, a way to get to and from public transport in the pitch dark, heating inside, a way to keep food from spoiling ... for some people (probably the large majority) .. its pretty bad ?

 

[porchrat]

You don't find that view a little narrow minded ... Do all people have laptops, their kids, LTE to get internet, gas stoves to cook on, a safe environment just outside in the dark, a way to get to and from public transport in the pitch dark, heating inside, a way to keep food from spoiling ... for some people (probably the large majority) .. its pretty bad ?

Not to mention the smaller businesses that are struggling to get by now having to run generators or other expensive setups.

Or larger industrial businesses dealing with things like alcohol processing or molten metals and power consumption that can't be met by simple generators or small scale solar installations. Hospitals running big MRIs etc.

The damage loadshedding is doing to this country's economy is incredible.

That it's still going on with the schizophrenic messages coming out between the rest of the government and Gwede is a crime against the nation.

 

[AlphaJohn]

Not to mention the smaller businesses that are struggling to get by now having to run generators or other expensive setups.

Or larger industrial businesses dealing with things like alcohol processing or molten metals and power consumption that can't be met by simple generators or small scale solar installations. Hospitals running big MRIs etc.

The damage loadshedding is doing to this country's economy is incredible.

That it's still going on with the schizophrenic messages coming out between the rest of the government and Gwede is a crime against the nation.

Its also f's up factories with heavy equipment.

Cause LS in the evenings we have to cold start every morning cause we cant leave equipment on idle overnight.

 

[marbro]

You don't find that view a little narrow minded ... Do all people have laptops, their kids, LTE to get internet, gas stoves to cook on, a safe environment just outside in the dark, a way to get to and from public transport in the pitch dark, heating inside, a way to keep food from spoiling ... for some people (probably the large majority) .. its pretty bad ?

If loadshedding had been around for 1-5 years yeah, I would agree.

But its been what, 14years now? And you dont have some sort of battery backup to cover you?

Those battery powered lights that screw into fittings are like R50 at our local chinese shop, work just as well as the more expensive ones,

Small inverter and car battery will power a tv and modem,
Fridges stay cold (mines 30years?ish) and its working fine on up to 6 hours of down time.

I understand some people are living paycheck to paycheck, but you also need to realise Loadshedding is like the ANC, it aint going away. No matter what anyone promises

 

[dualmeister]

They should just say that load shedding is now permanent.

 

[Lupus]

If loadshedding had been around for 1-5 years yeah, I would agree.

But its been what, 14years now? And you dont have some sort of battery backup to cover you?

Those battery powered lights that screw into fittings are like R50 at our local chinese shop, work just as well as the more expensive ones,

Small inverter and car battery will power a tv and modem,
Fridges stay cold (mines 30years?ish) and its working fine on up to 6 hours of down time.

I understand some people are living paycheck to paycheck, but you also need to realise Loadshedding is like the ANC, it aint going away. No matter what anyone promises

Technically it has only been around 4 years, before 2018 it was sporadic, 2008, 2014 for a bit, 99 days in 2015, the rest of the time no load shedding until 2018 again, so in reality it's not been here for 14 years. As we've only had the last 4 years of constant outages.
Also an inverter and car battery are not a good combo, that battery will be dead quick. Car battery's are not designed for that type of load. They want a quick jump and time to recharge

 

[porchrat]

If loadshedding had been around for 1-5 years yeah, I would agree.

But its been what, 14years now? And you dont have some sort of battery backup to cover you?

Those battery powered lights that screw into fittings are like R50 at our local chinese shop, work just as well as the more expensive ones,

Small inverter and car battery will power a tv and modem,
Fridges stay cold (mines 30years?ish) and its working fine on up to 6 hours of down time.

I understand some people are living paycheck to paycheck, but you also need to realise Loadshedding is like the ANC, it aint going away. No matter what anyone promises

How does a hospital that is cooling MRIs with liquid helium keep it all cool during loadshedding? That stuff vents and it's millions down the drain. Should they just put a solar farm on a floating platform above the hospital or something?

There are areas of the economy that cannot get practical answers to loadshedding.

Keeping your TV on is not the difficult part of loadshedding.

 

[jetlee]

If loadshedding had been around for 1-5 years yeah, I would agree.

But its been what, 14years now? And you dont have some sort of battery backup to cover you?

Those battery powered lights that screw into fittings are like R50 at our local chinese shop, work just as well as the more expensive ones,

Small inverter and car battery will power a tv and modem,
Fridges stay cold (mines 30years?ish) and its working fine on up to 6 hours of down time.

I understand some people are living paycheck to paycheck, but you also need to realise Loadshedding is like the ANC, it aint going away. No matter what anyone promises

I do have a battery backup and solar panels .. load shedding is a complete non event for me .. but I like to think of my privileged self relative to the other millions of south africans who cant afford their kids school clothes, nevermind a battery / inverter and some fancy lightbulbs. How does me having some kind of rechargeable light, solve the problem that my kids need data to do a project, or I need to cook, or walk in the dark to a bus stop ..

The more we say its not so bad, or we can manage, the more out of touch we are with how bad this thing actually is.. which is .. pretty fkn bad ..

 

[jetlee]

How does a hospital that is cooling MRIs with liquid helium keep it all cool during loadshedding? That stuff vents and it's millions down the drain. Should they just put a solar farm on a floating platform above the hospital or something?

There are areas of the economy that cannot get practical answers to loadshedding.

Keeping your TV on is not the difficult part of loadshedding.

Exactly this .. I have friends who run companies that appear to be simple .. one supplies timber .. but during load shedding, he cant run his 20kw saw and some other high power equipment that saves him hours of labour. So his guys need to come in at 4 to start work. They need to struggle to get to work, so they can do their jobs, so they can all get paid. He can shut down his business, he is pretty close to it, but in order to keep lights on, his guys need to work, when there isn't load shedding.

Then they need to sit around for 2 hours, during the day when shedding, then they need to leave late .. so all these guys do .. is work, and sleep .. cause tomorrow .. the cycle starts all over again. So many businesses are struggling to get by, because "poor economy", because "covid", because "eskom" ..

But so many people are like "hey .. I got a battery backup and some netflix .. this isnt a real problem is it?" .. its a problem .. for a LOT of people and a LOT of industries... the ones that have money have made a plan sure .. but many businesses just cannot afford the "cost" of loadshedding ..

 

[borro]

I do have a battery backup and solar panels .. load shedding is a complete non event for me .. but I like to think of my privileged self relative to the other millions of south africans who cant afford their kids school clothes, nevermind a battery / inverter and some fancy lightbulbs. How does me having some kind of rechargeable light, solve the problem that my kids need data to do a project, or I need to cook, or walk in the dark to a bus stop ..

The more we say its not so bad, or we can manage, the more out of touch we are with how bad this thing actually is.. which is .. pretty fkn bad ..

It’s going to get worse before it gets worse.

 

[marbro]

How does a hospital that is cooling MRIs with liquid helium keep it all cool during loadshedding? That stuff vents and it's millions down the drain. Should they just put a solar farm on a floating platform above the hospital or something?

There are areas of the economy that cannot get practical answers to loadshedding.

Keeping your TV on is not the difficult part of loadshedding.

Do you have to plan for a hosptial? Or your home? Im talking in regards to a home user

Technically it has only been around 4 years, before 2018 it was sporadic, 2008, 2014 for a bit, 99 days in 2015, the rest of the time no load shedding until 2018 again, so in reality it's not been here for 14 years. As we've only had the last 4 years of constant outages.
Also an inverter and car battery are not a good combo, that battery will be dead quick. Car battery's are not designed for that type of load. They want a quick jump and time to recharge

Its been around long enough for you to have some sort of a temp solution, Car battery was a quick idea that popped up, a 900w generator will do the same and they are just as cheap.

I do have a battery backup and solar panels .. load shedding is a complete non event for me .. but I like to think of my privileged self relative to the other millions of south africans who cant afford their kids school clothes, nevermind a battery / inverter and some fancy lightbulbs. How does me having some kind of rechargeable light, solve the problem that my kids need data to do a project, or I need to cook, or walk in the dark to a bus stop ..

The more we say its not so bad, or we can manage, the more out of touch we are with how bad this thing actually is.. which is .. pretty fkn bad ..

Yes you are fortunate. I know I am also,

If you cant afford to clothe your kids, I really dont think you will have loads of data. For cooking there is also a gas solution, or Parrifin stoves etc. There are ways around it, To make your life easier. at the end of the day you have to make it easier for your family.

I do however agree with your statement, I am trying to point out that sitting back and saying Oh loadshedding is so bad , isnt going to fix ****, Unless the people stand up and fix it, we are ****ed.


The people in charge are too busy lining their pockets and working their angles to care about average joe.

 

[jetlee]

Do you have to plan for a hosptial? Or your home? Im talking in regards to a home user


Its been around long enough for you to have some sort of a temp solution, Car battery was a quick idea that popped up, a 900w generator will do the same and they are just as cheap.


Yes you are fortunate. I know I am also,

If you cant afford to clothe your kids, I really dont think you will have loads of data. For cooking there is also a gas solution, or Parrifin stoves etc. There are ways around it, To make your life easier. at the end of the day you have to make it easier for your family.

I do however agree with your statement, I am trying to point out that sitting back and saying Oh loadshedding is so bad , isnt going to fix ****, Unless the people stand up and fix it, we are ****ed.


The people in charge are too busy lining their pockets and working their angles to care about average joe.

I get what you are trying to say "people must make a plan" and yes, they must. The unfortunate reality, is that people living hand to mouth (a very large percentage of South Africans) and many businesses, just cannot afford the "just buy this" solution regardless of how cheap it is.

The reality, is that loadshedding MUST be fixed by Eskom, and anyone who says "its not that bad" is living in a dream world.

It is bad, very bad ..

 

[grok]

Just keeping level 8 at bay for another week..

 

[porchrat]

Do you have to plan for a hosptial? Or your home? Im talking in regards to a home user

The home user's issues are easier to address for sure.

I think the response was to the statement that "loadshedding isn't so bad" because people can work around it in their homes. That you can work around it in your home is a non-issue to the actual cost of loadshedding. Loadshedding is bad. Really bad.