Not too long ago we all bore witness to stage 8 load shedding that was implemented by Eskom, South Africa’s government state-owned enterprise and the largest producer of electricity in Africa. Stage 8 was the highest stage South Africa had ever seen, resulting in the worst blackout experienced by the country.
In light of this occurrence, we thought about what the impact would be for businesses all around South Africa. Since a business’s ability to produce is absolutely essential for keeping it afloat.
And as a result, we put together this list of helpful tips to help keep load shedding at bay while you focus on growing your business.
Memorize the load shedding schedule
Make sure you know your schedule for your area and plan around these times in order for your business to be the most productive. You can follow @Eskom_SA on Twitter and download mobile apps like Eskom se Push for real-time updates. The app is very useful and alerts you with notifications on your phone, telling you when there will be planned outages. It also allows you to report unplanned outages and mistakes that Eskom may have made on their schedule.
Charge everything!
Make sure that all your devices, including your laptop, are charged in time for load shedding. So that when it strikes, you are able to complete your work on time without the frustration of having to wait hours for the electricity to come back on.
Buy a mobile data SIM card and a portable WiFi hotspot
We all know what a pain it is when the WiFi goes down as a result of load shedding and work comes to a screeching halt. Please do yourself a favour and purchase a portable WiFi hotspot and a SIM card with mobile data. These are often sold as bundles and will allow you to continue working seamlessly without you having to worry about internet availability.
Alternatively, you can purchase a small DC UPS to power your internet router when the power goes out.
Secure your offices
When load shedding hits, you don’t want to be caught off guard. So make sure that you have sufficient security. Things like alarms linked to armed response, electric fencing, etc. They should all be equipped with backup batteries as a failsafe. Also, make sure to back up all of your data and have surge protection plugs for any equipment that uses electricity.
Buy a generator
If your business has the cash to invest in a generator (which is well worth the money) or even better, a set of solar panels to go off the grid completely, then absolutely buy these! Either one will save you a lot of stress in terms of getting work done on time and will enable you to be available any time. Allowing your clients to contact you when they need you.
If purchasing a generator to power all of your equipment for your business is not feasible at this point in time, look into buying a small generator or a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) instead, to at least power the basics. Either of these items will cost your business significantly less than purchasing a big generator and will at least provide you with a source of power for a few hours to assist in getting more work done. Have a look on TakeaLot for all the above-mentioned items and more.
Make use of a shared office space
Using another office space equipped with a generator is wise. Especially if your business is in a pinch and hasn’t set aside the capital to pay for one. It’s a bit of an expense to become a member. But one you can easily justify, as it makes up for the otherwise lost time and money. Use this workspace and time to produce work for your clients. This will allow you to continue to run your business.
Allow for flexi hours
Outsmart load shedding and start thinking laterally. If your business has employees, give them the option to work on a flexible schedule. Perhaps coming into the office later and leaving later or vice versa according to the load shedding schedule for your vicinity. Another option is allowing your employees to work from home or in a coffee shop, provided there is electricity in the area.
The fact is that load shedding is disruptive and inconvenient to all businesses. But that is why having a plan can help to lessen the frustration and allow you to continue doing business even during South Africa’s electricity crisis.
