What is the difference between power cut and load shedding?

Load shedding is always a pre-planned measure, usually announced early in the morning. Ample warning is given by the utility, who are very clear when they communicate the stage of load shedding, the time it will take place, and who it’s going to affect. If you’re going to be incompetent, at least be open about it…

Power outages do not work this way. Load shedding schedules impact the whole country, whereas outages are almost always a local issue.

HOW TO CHECK WHAT YOU’RE EXPERIENCING

The best way to check if load shedding is in place or not is by visiting our dedicated page that instructs you how to check the schedule.

Alternatively, following Eskom’s Twitter account comes in handy. If the power is down, simply visit their page and check their recent posts. If there’s no mention of load shedding on that particular day, you are experiencing a power outage.

Non-Eskom related cuts will usually be communicated by the city if they are related to maintenance work. However, citizens are urged to contact their local municipalities if there is a loss of electricity that is neither related to load shedding nor work in the local area.

TIME DIFFERENCE

Load shedding tends to occur in blocks of two hours at a time, with only Johannesburg having to brave four-hour stints. Power outages are much less predictable and can drag on for a matter of days rather than hours.

MAIN CAUSES

Load shedding: A shortage in the generational supply, technical faults with power plants, insufficient coal & water reserves and to a lesser extent, extreme weather events.

Power outages: Equipment failures which “trip” the local grid, network overload, illegal power connections, sustained periods of poor weather, cable theft or deliberate disconnection (planned works, etc).

Image

Did You Know : Top 15 Free Online Learning Platforms

  1. Free Online Education Degrees : Coursera:

    Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer a wide range of courses. While many courses are free, a fee is often required for certification.

  2. Free Online Education Degrees: edX:

    Founded by MIT and Harvard, edX offers high-quality courses from top universities and institutions around the world. Certificates are available for a fee.

  3. Free Online Education Degrees : Khan Academy:

    Khan Academy provides free educational content in various subjects, especially mathematics and science, using instructional videos and practice exercises.

  4. Free Online Education Degrees : Udacity:

    Udacity focuses on tech-related courses and nanodegree programs, offering free content as well as more in-depth paid programs.

  5. Free Online Education Degrees : MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW):

    MIT OCW provides a vast array of MIT's course content for free, covering a wide range of disciplines.

  6. Free Online Education Degrees : Harvard Extension School:

    Harvard Extension School offers a selection of free online courses. While some courses are free, others may require payment for a certificate.

  7. Free Online Education Degrees: Stanford Online:

    Stanford Online offers a variety of free courses in different disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and business.

  8. Best Free Online Courses : Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI):

    OLI offers free online courses and resources designed to improve learning outcomes through research-based methodologies.

  9. Best Free Online Courses : FutureLearn:

    FutureLearn partners with universities and institutions to offer a diverse range of free online courses. Certificates are available for a fee.

  10. Best Free Online Courses: Alison:

    Alison offers a wide range of free online courses, including diploma and certificate programs, covering various subjects.

  11. Best Free Online Courses: Open Yale Courses:

    Yale University provides free access to a selection of introductory courses through Open Yale Courses.

  12. Best Free Online Courses : UC Berkeley Online:

    UC Berkeley offers free online courses on a variety of subjects, ranging from computer science to humanities.

  13. Best Free Online Courses : Google Digital Garage:

    Google Digital Garage provides free courses on digital skills, including online marketing, data analysis, and more.

  14. Best Free Online Courses : Codecademy:

    Codecademy offers free coding courses, interactive exercises, and coding projects to help individuals learn programming languages.

  15. Best Free Online Courses : LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com):

    LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of video courses on professional development, technology, and creative skills. It offers a free trial period.

Related Posts: