All the costs to keep your home running during load shedding

BY BONNY FOURIE bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za AND VIVIAN WARBY vivian.warby@inl.co.za

Load shedding continues unabated for hard-hit South Africans this week affecting how we work, cook, study, live and entertain

LOAD shedding, ranging from Stage 3 to 6, has been ongoing for weeks.

This has put employees, businesses, entrepreneurs and families under increasing strain to keep up with their work and living plans.

Below are all the items – plus cost estimates – you need to keep your home running as though there are no blackouts.

1. Power banks

A power bank is a portable charger designed to recharge your electronic devices when you’re on the move. Ranging in size from slim, pocket-sized devices up to larger, higher-capacity power banks, power banks can be used to charge smartphones, tablets and other devices.

A fully charged power bank or two in the house is essential for the times load shedding catches you unawares or when the outage triggers another electrical fault in your area and your power does not come back on for a long period.

There is no difference between a power bank and a portable charger. COST: We used Loot.co.za to check the prices of power banks. They range from from R94, for the most basic one, to just under R8 000.

2. A non-electrical kettle

Stove-top kettles are making a strong comeback as a result of load shedding. Usually made of stainless steel, they can be heated on a gas stove or fire when there is no electricity. COST: From about R400 to just under R2 400 for a brand-name whistling kettle.

3. Gas for cooking and keeping warm

A gas stove has become a big-ticket item for a kitchen renovation and a must-have in your kitchen if you are considering selling your home

There are cheaper versions of a gas cooker for outside as well as an indoor portable gas stove. During winter, you could also consider a gas heater. COST: Gas stove: A four to fiveplate gas stove or a mix of a gas top and electric oven costs from about R7 000 all the way up to R24 000 for a brand name.

Portable gas cooker: From about R350 for a one-plate up to about R2 500 for a delux two-plate gas cooker. COST: Gas heater: From about R1 300 to about R2 400 (without the gas bottle).

4. Outdoor lighting

Spring is here and summer is coming and with that, more time outdoors, even after the sun has gone down. Having sufficient light to allow you to relax or socialise outside at night is a good idea and it would make your home less appealing for would-be intruders.

Solar outdoor lamps that absorb energy from the sun during the day are ideal. The energy is used at night to light up your outdoors, without the need for electricity. Consider some solar floodlights, whether they’re on throughout the night or switch on when movement is detected. COST: Depending on what you are after, you could get a solar garden light for about R290 or pay up to R2 600 for a solar floodlight with remote control.

5. Indoor lighting

When load shedding kicks in when we need to be inside the house; when kids need to do homework, parents need to work or get children ready for bed, indoor lighting is important. Even if you are all fast asleep in the early hours of the morning, it helps to have a light source for comfort and to illuminate your way if you need to use the bathroom.

If you don’t have one, consider a rechargeable LED light. They contain a battery that charges when switched on during bouts of available electricity. As soon as the electricity goes off, the bulb automatically turns on. On average, the bulbs can give about three hours’ illumination – not quite covering Stage 6’s four-hour blackouts. For that, a torch and candles could help. Also keep an eye out for movable rechargeable emergency lights that can be charged by plugging them into a socket when electricity is available. Some of them are also solar-powered. COST: From R65 upwards to in excess of R800 in some instances.

6. Gas water heater

A gas source to heat water will not only allow you to bath or wash with warm water, but it will cut down on your electricity usage, and therefore costs.

This is just one example of a product that load shedding might have forced you to invest in, or consider buying, but is a device that can be used in the long-term to benefit our pockets and the environment. COST: We found heaters that went from about R1 900 to about R6 000, with one going up to R10 000.

7. Inverter

Basically, a power inverter changes DC power from a battery into conventional AC power that you can use to operate your wi-fi and also electric lights, kitchen appliances, microwaves, power tools, TVs, radios and computers, among others.

With many of us working from home, our work schedules are being interrupted by daily power cuts, and while charging cellphones and laptops might keep us operating for a short while, we cannot work without wi-fi.

Investing in an inverter has therefore become a necessity for those of us who work from home.

The size and capacity needed will depend on the number – and type – of devices you need to keep up and running.

It is not advisable to leave your inverter on all the time as this would quickly drain the battery, even if no electronic appliance is connected to the inverter. COST: We relooked at inverter prices when a reader told us how much he had paid for his. We found they varied drastically, depending on what you are after. You could find an inverter for just under R4 000 while others went all the way up to R66 000 and an entire range of inverters were priced from R10 000 to R20 000.

8. Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

A UPS performs a similar function to an inverter, but its switch-over is immediate compared to an inverter that has a time delay. A UPS stores electricity while an inverter converts AC power to DC power. The devices can be more expensive than inverters. COST: Again, this is dependent on your needs. We found basic ones for about R870, with a bigger supply in the R1 500 to R3 000 range. The price for one of them went all the way up to more than R51 000.

9. Rechargeable fans

With summer around the corner, a portable rechargeable fan will be essential when load shedding hits and temperatures soar. The fans can be placed near your bed or on your work table and are charged when electricity is on. COST: R130 upwards.

KEEP your house running as though load shedding doesn’t exist. PICTURE: DEVON MACKAY/UNSPLASH