South Africans have endured load-shedding for 12 years and it seems it will be another few years at least before the power crisis is under control.
The effects of rolling blackouts have been felt more than ever during Covid-19as businesses and individuals face economic fallout from the pandemic.
Recently, South Africans had to deal with another round of power outages, during which Eskom moved the country from one load-shedding stage to another, often without adequate notice.
A lot of people don’t enjoy a generator. You have to start it, it needs fuel and it makes a noise.
— Lorraine Cox, Jack's Paint and Hardware
Last week, Eskom boss André de Ruyter said load-shedding wasn’t solely the responsibility of the power utility and that all citizens had a responsibility to save energy.
As the crisis continues and blackouts become the norm, more South Africans have been forced to find alternative ways to obtain power. This has seen an increase in investment in uninterrupted power supply (UPS) devices.
Lorraine Cox, owner of Jack’s Paint and Hardware in Melville, Johannesburg, commented on the popularity of inverters, saying: “A lot of people don’t enjoy a generator. You have to start it, it needs fuel and it makes a noise.”
According to tech guru Toby Shapshak, it is better to start small when choosing a UPS and add on as your energy needs grow.
Watch the video below for more information.
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