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Even though South Africans are all tired of being left in the dark, despite our frustrations and the disruption caused by recurring power outages, the reality is that living with load shedding has become part of our daily lives in South Africa. But, unless you have the money for a generator, solar installations or other costly alternatives, the truth is that you will lose power for a few hours at a time during load shedding until the country’s electricity supply finally stabilises.
This guide covers practical ways to keep working when the power goes off: planning around the load shedding schedule in Johannesburg and elsewhere, cloud software, power banks, data backups and backup power. The questions at the end also cover managing customer expectations during load shedding, when phones and office systems go down. If your team needs more structured help, BOTI’s workplace essentials and personal effectiveness courses include a course on staying productive during power outages.
Especially in a world driven by technology, losing power due to load shedding on a regular basis and often several times a day, can be disruptive when you are trying your best to get your work done. But, power loss doesn’t always have to mean a total loss of productivity or that one needs to shut one’s doors. Alternatives can be put in place to beat the hours of darkness and there are ways to use dark downtime constructively. Here are our top tips on how to stay up and running when the lights go out.
Plan around the load shedding schedule
Planning ahead of time is vital in the battle against load shedding. Install the EskomSePush app on your cell phone to help you stay up-to-date with any last-minute load shedding notifications and schedule changes. Also, follow Eskom or your municipal provider such as City Power on social media to pick up any load shedding news alerts. Twitter is a great source of up-to-date information on load shedding and general power outages.
Let people work remotely during load shedding
When load shedding hits one of our main cities, staff may arrive at work late. This is after battling their way through congested traffic with robots down due to loss of power. When they finally arrive at work, only to find that they have moved from one grid currently load shedding to another that is about to start, this can result in a loss of productivity for up to half a day. Such can be avoided if staff are allowed to work remotely during frequent and extended periods of load shedding such as Eskom implementing widespread Stage 6 load shedding.
Implement cloud-based technologies
One of the most effective ways to stay productive during this load shedding period is to implement cloud-based technologies. If you have online software as opposed to on-premise software, this enables you to work anywhere as long as you have an Internet connection. This also means that your team will be able to log into your accounting or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software or other productivity tools at home, from the nearest hotspot or even using mobile data without relying on a server at the office.
Invest in a power bank, or two
Most of us are addicted to our smartphones. However, the battery life of any smartphone that is subjected to overuse during load shedding is not as efficient as we would like it to be. A power bank can help you to stay connected and run your business during load shedding, especially when your landlines go down. A power bank is especially useful if you need to travel and your phone can also be used as a mobile hotspot so that you always have access to the Internet. Don’t just buy one power bank, get two.
Back up your data
So that you don’t lose hours of important work or information when load shedding is heading your way, always keep your latest data backed up. Frequently backing up your data is an absolute must, not only due to load shedding but it can also be a saving grace in the event of a hard drive crash or if your computers are stolen. If you run a small business, using a simple cloud-based storage and backup solution such as Dropbox or Microsoft’s OneDrive will definitely do the trick.
Invest in an inverter or UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) device
Most small businesses may not be able to afford to invest in high-end alternative power solutions such as installing solar-powered batteries or generators. However, there are other alternatives. A UPS device will give you time to save your work and safely exit any applications you are working on even if you do have a generator since a generator will take a few seconds to start up when the power goes off. A backup power inverter system is another efficient solution which is more cost-effective than a generator or solar-powered batteries. An inverter will power a few computers as well as routers and lights for a few hours.
Get comfortable with gas
Now that we have discussed various ways and means to keep our machines running and staying connected and productive during load shedding, let us now focus on ourselves and how we can keep comfortable when the lights go out. As far as heating and eating is concerned, there is nothing like gas to warm things up. One of the most cost-effective easy solutions is to invest in a small gas stove and if budget allows, invest in a gas heater.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the load shedding schedule for Johannesburg?
Install the EskomSePush app on your phone so that you receive last-minute load shedding notifications and schedule changes. Also follow Eskom, or your municipal provider such as City Power in Johannesburg, on social media for news alerts about load shedding and general power outages. Planning your day around the schedule is the first step to staying productive when the lights go out.
How can a business keep managing customer expectations during load shedding?
Plan around the schedule so you know in advance when you will be off. Cloud-based CRM and accounting software lets your team reach customer records from home, a hotspot or mobile data. A charged power bank keeps phones working when landlines go down, and a phone can act as a mobile hotspot. Letting staff work remotely during long outages also avoids losing half a day to traffic and power cuts.
What is the difference between a UPS and an inverter?
A UPS device gives you time to save your work and safely close the applications you are using when the power goes off, and it covers the few seconds a generator needs to start. An inverter is a backup power system that can run a few computers, routers and lights for a few hours, and it costs less than a generator or solar-powered batteries.
How can staff stay productive during load shedding?
Plan work around the schedule, and let staff work remotely during frequent and extended outages. Move to cloud-based software so the team can use accounting, CRM and other tools from anywhere with an internet connection. Back up data often, keep two charged power banks, and use a UPS or an inverter to keep computers, routers and lights running.
To turn these tips into a plan your whole team follows, BOTI runs a two-day Load Shedding Training: Staying Productive During Power Outages course in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or online. It is not accredited, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance. Call 011 882 8853 or email [email protected].