*sigh* sometimes I hate my country

[iradney]

Due to Eskom (our ONLY electrical power provider) sticking their heads in the sand and not thinking that "Hey, the population is increasing, they might need more power in 10 years time, let's build some more plants!", we are now having power issues.

They call it "load shedding". We call it "@*$&$^@!!!"

Load shedding is "a controlled way of rotating available capacity between all customers at times when the demand is greater than available supply."

Every day, for two hours, a region of South Africa is without power. This is because we have more power demand than they can supply. We can apparently look forward to these "load sheds" for the next 10 years.

OH! And we're supposed to host the Soccer World Cup in 2 years time. What the hell are they gonna do then? Will businesses have to be offline for a week so that the stadiums have light etc?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Around here we call those "rolling blackouts." I can't recall the last time we had one though. It might have been back in '94 or '95 when we had such an unbearable heat wave.

[iradney]

Over Christmas it wasn't an issue, because most of the people go away for the holidays.
But let's see - last week, we had a "load shed" on Thursday from 10 - 12, then AGAIN from 8 - 9. Friday, nothing. Saturday, 8pm - 10 pm, Sunday 8pm till 10pm, and this morning 8 am to 10:30 am. *sigh* it really buggers people around - seriously thinking of looking into solar paneling, but we don't own the place we live in...

[Seshat]

seriously thinking of looking into solar paneling, but we don't own the place we live in...

I read an article in a print magazine about a family who had a rental place, but managed to use wind and solar power anyway. Their wind tower was supported with guy ropes, and their solar panels were mounted with clamps, if I recall correctly.

Talk to the local suppliers of such things - they may have solutions. It's worth asking and figuring things out, anyway.

[iradney]

UPDATE!!! THe power went off AGAIN at 3pm. Right in the middle of my training. *much sighness*

Seshat, I'll find out what I can, but since we're in a ground level flat, i have no idea where we could put the panels without the HOA having issues with it.