Questions on 'Load Shedding'

[LoneGunman]

Hi all,

I'm doing some theatre writing on an SA-based story, and with my 'Writer' cap on, I
thought I'd ask some power-cut-related questions for the purposes of research (mainly so
that the piece accurately reflects the situation that folks are in, and dealing with, in SA).

If people would like to answer any of these questions - it'll be very useful.
Some of them may seem to be weird questions - but I'm trying to get a sense of the
'textures' of the reality of being in a modern society, with all the gadgets and stuff, yet
being reduced regularly to near stone age-type living conditions, when electricity is being
removed regularly (and being seen as 'normal').

1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?

2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).

3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?

4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?

5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?

6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)

7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?

8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?

9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?

10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?

11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)

 

[Syndyre]

Hi all,

I'm doing some theatre writing on an SA-based story, and with my 'Writer' cap on, I
thought I'd ask some power-cut-related questions for the purposes of research (mainly so
that the piece accurately reflects the situation that folks are in, and dealing with, in SA).

If people would like to answer any of these questions - it'll be very useful.
Some of them may seem to be weird questions - but I'm trying to get a sense of the
'textures' of the reality of being in a modern society, with all the gadgets and stuff, yet
being reduced regularly to near stone age-type living conditions, when electricity is being
removed regularly (and being seen as 'normal').

1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?

2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).

3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?

4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?

5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?

6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)

7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?

8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?

9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?

10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?

11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)

1. The media I presume, can't remember specifically, maybe here.

2. Cook if I was planning to but where I am most of the time our power cuts are always 6am - 8am/8:30am so its less disruptive.

3. It goes abruptly and then comes back just as abruptly for me.

4. Haven't had any damage yet.

5. Our alarm and electric fence has battery backup which has lasted long enough so far.

6. No, it still infuriates me, trying to make plans to work around it, using generators, UPS's etc. so we can maintain a semblance of civilisation.

7. Traffic lights are off, not so sure about street lights.

8. Ours has a battery backup fortunately or we wouldn't be able to get into the house.

9. Not that I've heard of specifically but I'm sure its happened.

 

[Keeper]

Question 9: Yes, in Kempton Parks' Festival Mall i have heard there are ppl waiting in woolworths and edgars waiting for a power outage, with stuff ready to steal.

apparently the security quard can't keep up with people walking out of the store stealing as it's complete darkness when a power out occurs..

it seems some are benifiting from eskoms s%*t, ie: thieves.

 

[LoneGunman]

@Syndyre Thanks very much for answering
I see you mention your powercut times are 6am - 8am/8:30am - does that mean you have
to take cold baths/showers at times - or is there enough hot water left in the geyser, even
with power off, to see you through quick washes?

@Keeper thanks for that story - I never thought about, or considered what happens in malls!
(now I think of it - movies must also be getting disrupted - and I guess, people have to avoid going
into any lifts near the power-out times, otherwise they're trapped for however long the powers out.. eish..

 

[Syndyre]

@Syndyre Thanks very much for answering
I see you mention your powercut times are 6am - 8am/8:30am - does that mean you have
to take cold baths/showers at times - or is there enough hot water left in the geyser, even
with power off, to see you through quick washes?

No luckily the geyser seems to keep warm for long enough that I just shower as normally and its always hot, I don't shower for long anyway though.

Although a friend of mine in Bloem said she says to wake up early to shower with hot water because they have one of those ripple control units installed which Eskom/the municipality use to turn off their geyser for most of the day, even when there's no loadshedding.

 

[Keeper]

yep - i also wandered, what happens to ppl watching movies...?
has this happend to anyone?

Yesterday there was news that Kempton would be without power for 4-8 days.
Luckily 3/4 of it is on (as far as i know...) but imagine that:

1) supermarkets all over - fridges: meat,etc going bad.
2) crime would def. go up all over!
3) does the airport have that much backup generators for a weeks Power outage? I'm sure they can't handle a whole week - and an airport not functioning for a week is purdy bad..
4) not being able to cook food / shower in hot water / wash clothes / etc for a week - WTF!

 

[HavocXphere]

@Syndyre Thanks very much for answering
I see you mention your powercut times are 6am - 8am/8:30am - does that mean you have
to take cold baths/showers at times - or is there enough hot water left in the geyser, even
with power off, to see you through quick washes?

Geysers hold their temp forever. However the second person might get a surprise because the water that the first person used is replaced with cold water.

It has a major impact on traffic patterns on busy intersections. More crashes there.

The most annoying thing about it is, that it is unpredictable. There is little point in schedules if they don't really stick to them.

PnP has a generator. Works surprisingly well.

 

[Syndyre]

O/T, but am I the only one who finds the term load shedding rather Orwellian?

 

[Keeper]

I heard power went out while doctors were in surgery on a guy that had a heart attack.
they say the hospital can't supply backup power to the WHOLE hospital...

Hmm...what about supplying backup power to the critical areas only?

 

[kaspaas]

An aspect overlooked:

SMME's can't cope easily with regular power shedding. They don't have the capital to get sufficient generators etc. This leads to a drop in productivity, and cash flow problems, retrenchment of staff etc.

Our auditors (3 man band) are in serious cash flow trouble when one of their key clients went belly up - a small butcher who lost R500 000 worth of meat.

Power shedding has a major effect at grass roots level - and it will become more visible with time.

 

[Frankie]

Hi all,

I'm doing some theatre writing on an SA-based story, and with my 'Writer' cap on, I
thought I'd ask some power-cut-related questions for the purposes of research (mainly so
that the piece accurately reflects the situation that folks are in, and dealing with, in SA).

If people would like to answer any of these questions - it'll be very useful.
Some of them may seem to be weird questions - but I'm trying to get a sense of the
'textures' of the reality of being in a modern society, with all the gadgets and stuff, yet
being reduced regularly to near stone age-type living conditions, when electricity is being
removed regularly (and being seen as 'normal').

1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?

Local radio - Radio Algoa

2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).

Put a few of the blue ice cube things from the freezer into the fridge and take a six pack out and put that into a small cooler also with one of those blue blocks, to avoid opening the fridge - this is when expecting longer outages

3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?
Ours has always been abrupt, which is a sign that the substation breakers are still OK

4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?

In theory it shouldn't bother most appliances, but spikes occur even when switching power off because the inductive loads can cause a very high back EMF - the electronic goods are more at risk - heating devices like geysers aren't at risk

5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?
Our alarm battery carries it through and the panic buttons work

6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)
Having worked for Eishkom for many years in the past, it p1sses me off no end because I know what's lead to this.
I always appreciate the comforts electric power gives

7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?All lights are off - with the high crime on your mind it's scary - no traffic lights - I once went straight through a traffic light intersection without stopping, but if cars had approached I would have seen their lights and realised I was approaching an intersection

8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?
Our complex gate drive is disengaged and left open - I have to go into my garage and disengage the drive

9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?
No, but I'm sure it has, and as the crooks get wise to this and check the schedules out online they capitalise

10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?
Listen to the radio or chat

11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)

People are not getting accustom to this, just more agro

 

[Keeper]

I heard some disturbing news from a guy that works for a company, that is under contract work for eskom.

Eskom is keeping this under raps from the public, so i'm not going into detail what I heard....

all I can say is, the demand for power is going to double in the next 5 years.

Do you think eskom will be able to double power output in just 5 years?

Somethings gonna POP!

 

[Syndyre]

People are not getting accustom to this, just more agro

So true, for a lot of people its been the final straw. Applications must be streaming in to Western embassies.

 

[kaspaas]

A major nuisance at home that could be useful in a story:

Resetting all the clocks on the electrical devices: The microwave, HiFi, DVD player....

You'll be surprised how many devices their are that forget the time if the power goes down

 

[LoneGunman]

@HavocXphere re the geyser, I recall my own old one in melville, routinely blowing a fuse after powercuts, and developing 'bubbles' in the pipes, which meant I had to force cold water through the hot pipe to push bubbles out and resume normal water flow..

just a side thought - the power cuts are hitting all 'demographic' areas equally?
As in 'racial' areas? Soweto gets hit as equally as Sandton, or Lenasia, for instance?
There's no kind of conspiracy theories floating around about certain
voting areas getting more power cuts than others? (No, I dont think this myself, just
seeing if any crazy theories are emerging)..

re the idea of 4 - 8 days without power, that's total insanity. If an airports in the area, I guess they'll have to fuel up emergency generators - hmmm, it occurs to me - whats happening in hospitals - which usually have generators..

another question - given the various things that've been damaged - ranging from car crashes to home equipment - are there any mentions in media of suing Eskom for damages, or people actually doing this, or is the general feeling more just the usual 'grumble grumble put up with it'..

@kaspaas & Frankie - thanks for that feedback

Again, thanks to everyone who's responding, I'm getting a clearer sense of the situation there.

It really sounds unacceptable.
Yet, I know, what can one do as an individual when faced with it.. hunker down and try
keep on living as 'normally' as possible. (I think 4-8 days without power though, they'll have to bring in the police to stabilize the area afterwards..)

So clearly, there's a rising sense of overall 'gatvolness' for want of a better way of putting it.
I guess obviously, one cant ignore not having the basics of civilization.

It sounds like people are 'sort of' getting used to it - but the disruption and frustration (and the reality of it)
means you can't actually 'get used to it'... (hence my question about if people are talking more, or fights occurring during
the power-out times)..

 

[Ecco]

1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?

Didnt hear about it, was on holiday overseas, came back and it was already happening.

2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).

Nothing, cause it happens during the day while at work, where we have beeeg generators.

3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?

Abrupt cut, and abrupt switch back on.

4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?

No damage as yet.

5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?

Security is managed by an external company that looks after the whole townhouse complex. The guard has to open the main gate manually, not other alarms otherwise.

6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)

No major impact, because it usually happens during the day while i am at work. On weekends, it happens in the mornings, when it happens, i usually just get out of the house.

7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?

Complete darkness everywhere (based on when it did go out at night)

8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?

The guard opens the gates manually.

9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?

Have not heard of any such instances.

10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?

When i happened at night I would read a book by candle light.

11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)

Yup, people talk to each other more, but not getting upset. In fact nobody has ever got upset with each other, as a result of the power cuts.

 

[quik]

@Keeper thanks for that story - I never thought about, or considered what happens in malls!
(now I think of it - movies must also be getting disrupted - and I guess, people have to avoid going
into any lifts near the power-out times, otherwise they're trapped for however long the powers out.. eish..

Most lifts today also have backup power, and at least go to the nearest floor and stop during an outtage. The ones i've been in at least.

yep - i also wandered, what happens to ppl watching movies...?
has this happend to anyone?

If the power goes out during a movie, they refund everyone in the cinema or give them free vouchers for a later show.

Geysers hold their temp forever

Wow! Perpetual geyser, amazing! They hold their temp quite well for a few hours, but hardly forever.

 

[Keeper]

refunding me for a movie - great

having to watch the entire first 45 mins of the movie again? - not so great.

 

[Frankie]

just a side thought - the power cuts are hitting all 'demographic' areas equally?
As in 'racial' areas? Soweto gets hit as equally as Sandton, or Lenasia, for instance?
There's no kind of conspiracy theories floating around about certain
voting areas getting more power cuts than others? (No, I dont think this myself, just
seeing if any crazy theories are emerging)..

I haven't heard of this discrimination, but it certainly happened with the recent property evaluations, so it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Keeper]

well my aunt lives in fourways (ie sandton) and they seem to have more load shedding than us in kempton park, which is next to tembisa.

dunno if i'm the only one thinking this, only my 2c...