Across South Africa companies big and small are feeling the pinch of nearly two months of power cuts and having to spend a fortune on diesel fuel for their stand-by generators.
At Lynray Engineering, in Benoni, on the East Rand, something's got to give.
For two consecutive days last week the electrical circuit box manufacturing company was hit by load-shedding, costing it R10000 for fuel for its generators.
"We need to make a plan," said spokesman Jeandre Smit. "We have to do something."
To keep production going during load-shedding they run five generators, costing them R40000 a month in diesel.
They are not alone.
Peggy Drodskie, chief operating officer of the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "Our members, small and medium-sized businesses, are saying on average it costs them R40000 a month to run their generators."
She said installing a generator costs about R1-million, which many small companies cannot afford. The chamber is looking for alternatives to beat load-shedding.
Possibilities include operating in shifts, with employees working outside normal hours.