Just how bad are things at Eskom?

Electric said:
I am on the same electrical grid as a large location, we had no load shedding this wknd at all.

Just putting that out there.
You want to talk about racist systems in place in this country? Well there's one rather large glaring example right there.
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Also had no load shedding this weekend at all. Nowhere near a location.

Just saying. 1 conjecture does not a case make.

Was load shedded to hell last weekend though.
 
We were Shed from 12:30 - 16:30 Sat and Sunday - Vereeniging, Arcon Park.
 
After sitting without power for 19 hours this past weekend I've finally come to the point of saying enough is enough. I never thought I'd ever be saying this but I had a serious "candle-light" discussion with the wife last night and I told her in no uncertain terms that in 2 years I want to be out of here.

In 2008 we had our first taste of load-shedding and during that time "experts" gave their predictions and warnings to Eiskom and Government and Government assured the country that these problems would be dealt with. Fast-forward 6 years and to no surprise, any advice which was given back then has fallen on deaf ears and now we're facing a nation-wide blackout according to Eishkom.

This year many areas were stuck without running water due to pumping station downtime as a result of power cable theft/power outages/water shortages/empty reservoirs/incompetence/lack of maintenance/cANCEer uselessness/(add suitable excuse here) and you can bet your arse "water-shedding" is a future reality we will face unless "something" is done which we already know definitely won't be. I've heard from some sources that we can expect water-shedding within 3 years at this rate.

We are part of a country where mediocrity, corruption and laziness is not only commonplace and tolerated, but is also promoted. There is just no drive for excellence or an attitude to excel, no longing or desire to be better or to improve.

For too long I've been clinging onto a magical thing called hope...hope that things will improve, hope that better leaders will be elected, hope that SA can rise above its problems, hope that people can look past racial barriers and a turbulent history to unite for the common good, hope that my child will grow up in a "safe" South Africa…..I now realize hope in SA is nothing but a pipe dream.
 
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We were shed from 10:00 to 14:30 Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday was easier to deal with because we worked out it would be the same as Saturday. The schedule says 14:00 to 18:30.
 
How do you lose 2 000MW of generating capacity in an hour?
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Easy, you run out of diesel, which is pretty much what happened isn't it?
 
sjm said:
Also had no load shedding this weekend at all. Nowhere near a location.

Just saying. 1 conjecture does not a case make.

Was load shedded to hell last weekend though.
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I'm just making a random point for the sake of being pissed off.
 
HiToKiRi said:
After sitting without power for 19 hours this past weekend I've finally come to the point of saying enough is enough. I never thought I'd ever be saying this but I had a serious "candle-light" discussion with the wife last night and I told her in no uncertain terms that in 2 years I want to be out of here.

In 2008 we had our first taste of load-shedding and during that time "experts" gave their predictions and warnings to Eiskom and Government and Government assured the country that these problems would be dealt with. Fast-forward 6 years and to no surprise, any advice which was given back then has fallen on deaf ears and now we're facing a nation-wide blackout according to Eishkom.

This year many areas were stuck without running water due to pumping station downtime as a result of power cable theft/power outages/water shortages/empty reservoirs/incompetence/lack of maintenance/cANCEer uselessness/(add suitable excuse here) and you can bet your arse "water-shedding" is a future reality we will face unless "something" is done which we already know definitely won't be. I've heard from some sources that we can expect water-shedding within 3 years at this rate.

We are part of a country where mediocrity, corruption and laziness is not only commonplace and tolerated, but is also promoted. There is just no drive for excellence or an attitude to excel, no longing or desire to be better or to improve.

For too long I've been clinging onto a magical thing called hope...hope that things will improve, hope that better leaders will be elected, hope that SA can rise above its problems, hope that people can look past racial barriers and a turbulent history to unite for the common good, hope that my child will grow up in a "safe" South Africa…..I now realize hope in SA is nothing but a pipe dream.
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Just make sure that if you move abroad, you're moving TOWARDS something, rather than running AWAY from something else. This is not immediately clear to a lot of people and can help heaps towards making you feel like a value adding-productive member trying to integrate into the new society...rather than being made to feel like a tax-leeching refugee...which WILL happen.

Packing your life into a 23kg bag isn't easy. However, it's a strangely refreshing feeling to realise that everything you have is just ... stuff... and doesn't define you as a person. (I still miss my surfboard, gaming collection, gaming PC and most notably, my hardcover books.)

I was hesitant at first, especially at the thought of being called a quitter and leaving my family behind...but my dad even told me Id be of most help to them if Im already in another country for them to go to, should the need arise. But yeah, enough is enough.
 
The blackout debacle will remain until eskom gets it way with tariffs, then it will miraculously disappear until eskom asks for a further 200% increase, at which time it will all start again.

Meantime eskom employees will receive their normal 14 month worth on annual payments for having succeeded in destroying the country.
 
Voicy said:
I was hesitant at first, especially at the thought of being called a quitter and leaving my family behind...but my dad even told me Id be of most help to them if Im already in another country for them to go to, should the need arise. But yeah, enough is enough.
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Presumably you have a uni degree? Sadly most countries won't look at anyone who doesn't, even if you've got 10 years of experience in your field.
 
The fact that the "emergency" diesel generators are being run for 16 hours a day, should give everyone an idea of how serious the situation is. Those generators are the absolute last line of defence and when (not if) they start to fail, that is it. (Not to mention the pollution and diesel costs... but that's another story).

Eskom is essentially trying to plug a hole in a dam with duct tape. Sooner or later the hole gets too big, or the tape runs out, or both. When that happens, the grid itself may very well fail entirely... and that would make this current mess seem irrelevant.
 
The silver lining on electricity is that it is relatively 'easy' and 'affordable' to self-provide most of your needs. For short outages, a few LED/CFL rechargeable lights can get you through a couple of hours of darkness. For longer outages, cooking can be converted to gas for a few grand or cheaply with a small cylinder and Cadac burner/Skottle/Grill. Generators, although noisy and annoying to keep, are available from R2000 for something that can run most things in your house.

It's water that is just not so easy to get if it isn't supplied by the Municipality.
 
Voicy said:
Just make sure that if you move abroad, you're moving TOWARDS something, rather than running AWAY from something else. This is not immediately clear to a lot of people and can help heaps towards making you feel like a value adding-productive member trying to integrate into the new society...rather than being made to feel like a tax-leeching refugee...which WILL happen.

Packing your life into a 23kg bag isn't easy. However, it's a strangely refreshing feeling to realise that everything you have is just ... stuff... and doesn't define you as a person. (I still miss my surfboard, gaming collection, gaming PC and most notably, my hardcover books.)

I was hesitant at first, especially at the thought of being called a quitter and leaving my family behind...but my dad even told me Id be of most help to them if Im already in another country for them to go to, should the need arise. But yeah, enough is enough.
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Is that you, Tagliano?

pfrank-tagliano-giovanni-henriksen-steve-van-zandt-nbsp-lilyhammer-nbsp-r-geir-henning-hopland-simen-alsvik-lisa-marie-gamlem-2011-p.jpg
 
Gaz{M} said:
The silver lining on electricity is that it is relatively 'easy' and 'affordable' to self-provide most of your needs. For short outages, a few LED/CFL rechargeable lights can get you through a couple of hours of darkness. For longer outages, cooking can be converted to gas for a few grand or cheaply with a small cylinder and Cadac burner/Skottle/Grill. Generators, although noisy and annoying to keep, are available from R2000 for something that can run most things in your house.

It's water that is just not so easy to get if it isn't supplied by the Municipality.
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Okay - I've got an LED. How is that sorting out the traffic jam?
 
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