Ease the loadshedding burden

The electricity supply is possibly going to be erratic for the next few years at least. Instead of being despondent, we can learn to live with power cuts in the best way possible.

Our great grandparents could do it, so why can’t we? While we take electricity and our modern lifestyles for granted, our gadgets and gizmos weren’t always around. So adjusting to a few hours a day without our creature comforts might not necessarily be a bad thing.

There are, however, also ways to ensure that loadshedding has a minimal impact on your life. Here are 10 steps you can take:

1. Plan ahead. The loadshedding schedule can change by the hour. Download an app to help you keep track of what’s going on so that you can prepare. EskomSePush (ESP) is a popular and reliable one.
2. When you plan ahead, you can arrange your mealtimes and menus accordingly. Look at buying a gas cooker so you can at least make stove-top meals.
3. Another good investment is a Wonderbag cooker. This South African invention allows you to boil food and then slow-cook it over an eight-hour period without using any additional electricity.
4. A stove-top kettle is an absolute must for that much-needed cup of tea or coffee.
5. Install rechargeable light bulbs. While more expensive than regular light bulbs, these can be charged between bouts of loadshedding and will give you light when the power is out.
6. Fill empty cooldrink bottles with water and freeze them in the freezer. These can then be used to keep food cold in the fridge when the power is out and also to stop food from defrosting in the freezer.
7. Always keep torches charged. To save money on batteries, buy rechargeable torches that can be charged when the electricity is on and can be used in the areas where you don’t have rechargeable light bulbs.
8. If you are prepared to spend a bit more, you could invest in an inverter, battery backup or UPS. These come in a range of sizes and vary in price, and can do anything ranging from powering your Wi-Fi to keeping your TV on and charging your computer.
9. An even more affordable option is a power bank, so that at the very least you can charge your cellphone.
10. If you are prepared to make a bigger outlay, consider installing a solar photovoltaic solution at your home. Some banks are offering loans for this, and there is also an option to rent to buy.