Load Shedding Hints & Tips

How to use the schedules
Customers with special medical needs
What to do if the power goes off unexpectedly

How to use the schedules

Know your schedule in advance

Don?t wait for the power to go off before trying to find out what schedule you are on. Get your schedule in advance and memorise or keep the information handy. Schedule information is available from:

• the Eskom website (information available for Eskom or municipal / metro customers)
•  your supply authority (for municipal / metro customers) – most have web sites, published schedules in the press from time to time or you may be able to get the information from their Call Centre
• your newspaper
• a number of organisations that are making load shedding information available via web sites, email or SMS messages. These services use the load shedding information which is made available to them by Eskom in the public domain

Keep up to date with schedule changes

Schedules can and will change from time to time. Keep checking your sources to ensure you always have the latest information.

Stay in touch with the national Power Alert status

Use the following media channels to stay informed about the status of the national power system, to be aware when load shedding is planned to take place:

• National Power Alert icon on the Eskom website (you can get a real time RSS feed of the status)
• SABC TV channels in the evenings
• Stay informed through information in the press and radio stations

Be prepared

Assume that load shedding will take place according to the published schedule and plan your life accordingly. In particular:

• Plan your week, your day and your travel arrangements
• Ensure that your cell phone is always fully charged
• Ensure that your vehicle always has fuel in the tank
• Ensure that you have adequate cash on hand
• Ensure you know how to manually operate electric garage doors / gates
• Keep torches, candles, etc where they will be easy to find in the dark.
• Prepare meals and hot beverages beforehand or use a gas cooker
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent spoilage
• Keep medication requiring refrigeration in a closed fridge
• Switch off or disconnect any electrical appliances. Keep one light switched on to alert you when the power returns
• Remember to reset the time on alarm clocks, ovens, pool pumps, geysers and other automatically controlled appliances, unless these clocks have battery backup.
  

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Customers with special medical needs

• It is generally impossible to leave individual customers on when whole networks and areas are switched off, so customers with medical conditions must please take extra precautions to ensure that their needs are provided for, and that they are prepared to deal with power cuts
• Customers with special needs such as medical support equipment (ventilators, dialysis machines, etc) should consult their medical practitioner on what special precautions they can take. For example, it may be possible to obtain a battery back-up unit for medical equipment, or obtain additional oxygen cylinders as a back-up
  

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What to do if the power goes off unexpectedly

• If power goes off at a different time to the schedule, the reason could be:
• a "normal" fault, or
• Emergency load shedding, which will be published in the media.
• If you are not sure, it is better to treat the situation as a fault and report it to the Eskom Contact Centre (Eskom customers) or your local supply authority (municipality / metro customers).