South Africa has been plunged into darkness once again by the power utility Eskom, and the light at the end of the load shedding tunnel will only be seen on Saturday.
In a statement, Eskom told consumers that due to a shortage of generation capacity, Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 9am on Tuesday to 5am on Saturday.
“While Eskom teams have successfully returned a unit each at the Kusile, Matimba and Arnot power stations during the early hours of this morning, further delays in returning other units to service have exacerbated the capacity constraints, hampering the ability to replenish the emergency generation reserves,” Eskom said in a statement.
Ways to save electricity:
1. Manage your geyser. Switch it off if unused or if you leave on holiday.
2. Install a timer on your geyser.
3. Cover your hot water heater with an insulation blanket.
4. Reduce the temperature of your geyser thermostat to 55°C or less.
5. Invest in a solar geyser and save up to 40% on your electricity bill.
6. Save up to 16% on your bill by insulating your home properly.
7. Consider installing energy efficient windows.
8. Save up to 10% on your bill by setting your pool pump to run for a shorter period each day: 6 hours in summer and 4 in winter are enough.
9. Replace your old bulbs for LED equivalent. They use 90% less electricity and last up to 20 years.
10. Invest in energy STAR appliances and electronics.
11. Save 6% on your bill by switching off your appliances at the wall.
12. Run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher
13. Don’t set your fridge temperature colder than necessary: set your refrigerator between 2°C and 5°C and your freezer between -20°C and – 22°C
14. Install an energy saving-showerhead: they are designed to use up to 40% less hot water.
ALSO READ: The human side of Joburg’s mosaic master
