Eight ways to prepare for load shedding
Here are eight things you should do to ensure you avoid load shedding blues.
There seems to be no end in sight to load shedding, which means we can expect more power outages over the next few days.
Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan says South Africa's power systems are battling to keep up with demand.
There are also fears that Eskom could implement stage five and six load shedding very soon.
The only thing residents can do at this stage is to try to be as well prepared as possible for future outages.
The power utility recently shared an interesting infographic on how to prepare for load shedding. Here are eight things we picked up.
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Charge your phone
There is nothing worse than realising that your phone battery is on 1% just as load shedding starts. Be aware of the load shedding times for your area and make sure you charge your phone ahead of time. A fully charged phone will come in handy when you need to make important calls, such as ordering in food or calling your best friend to moan about how sick and tired you are of load shedding. If you don't charge your phone in time, you can always use your car charger.
Prepare meals in advance
Load shedding is becoming a common occurrence, which means you could wake up to no electricity and will be stuck eating cereal. You also might not make it home in time to cook supper. Make your breakfast overnight if you will be having load shedding in the morning and heat it up just before the lights cut.
Don't forget to switch off your stove
If you were busy cooking or baking when load shedding kicked in, make sure you switch off your stove before heading out the door. You might still be away when the electricity comes back on, which could result in a fire if your stove is still on.
Check your medication
If you have medication that needs to be stored in the fridge, don't panic. According to Eskom, your medication can remain in a closed fridge for several hours without spoiling. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about your medicine type.
Keep frozen bottled water
Frozen bottles of water can come in handy during load shedding. They can help keep food in your fridge cold during a power outage. They will also help keep you cool when the aircon and fan are not working during load shedding. Don't forget to keep your bottles in the freezer so they are ice cold when load shedding starts.
ALSO READ: Finding solution to load shedding will be a struggle: Gordhan
Thermos flasks
Boil water shortly before your electricity goes out and pour it into a few thermos flasks. This way, you will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or hot drink during load shedding.
Invest in a small LP gas heating ring
This will be useful for essential cooking or boiling water.
Use surge protection
"Electric surges are one of the biggest of damage to equipment during a power outage. Installing a surge protection device can help minimise damage," says Eskom.