Load Sharing

Old Jan 16th, 2008, 09:14 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Load Sharing

To all fellow South Africans on Fodors.
What is your opinion on the current status of our electricity situation. The reason I am posting this is because we all as operators, friends, whatever are experiencing up to 4 hours a day without power. I have installed 2 generators in my office to take care of this problem and as I write this my generators are running.
safarichat is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2008, 09:19 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It is the one thing that is really driving me mad living here.

It has not been so bad in Port Elizabeth where I live, but it really makes me think I am living in a 3rd world country.
coline is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2008, 09:33 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Coline
Thanks. Get yourself a genny as it is going to be for the next 5 or 6 years. Game lodges and all hospitality places have already installed them.
WELCOME TO AFRICA
safarichat is offline  
Old Jan 16th, 2008, 09:49 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Power just came back on. I was off for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
safarichat is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 12:36 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's part of a long, slow spiral into decay. 30 years from now, we won't be able to recognise the country that we now know or knew.
Thabo Mbeki has apologised for the Government's incompetence, but that doesn't make things any easier. Unfortunately Eskom, like most other Departments, is no longer a utility company, but an employment agency. When you aspire for nothing more than medocrity - at best, and the gutter is acceptable, that is unfortunately all you'll get.
Baobab is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 01:30 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What a horrible way to look at it, yes it is bad and yes it is unpleasant and especially when the area that I live in has been hot 4 times a day lately, but i can only hope that it will get better. I cannot think that in 30 years we will be in rack and ruin and I seriously doubt that the world stage would allow that to happen, I relaly hope that we are going to grow and flourish and they will sort the problems out and things will get better.

Baobab if you think the gutter is where we are headed why not leave?
Doogle is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 01:58 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We had to the same, Generators.
We moved our booking office from Botswana to SA for the internet reliability.
Still we have to roll with the punches.
Kasane in Botswana had no internet or phones for a day, due to all the rain, ie. no solar power.
So for us SA still better to have our booking office.
jdbotswana is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 06:25 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I came to South Africa from the U.K.in 1995, when all the doom and gloom merchants were heading the other way.

Things have improved considerably in the time I have been here, the opposite of what was expected.

The lack of electricity is however a big pain.
coline is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 08:02 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't think SA will go down. Well, I certainly hope not as I love it here.
Anyway, it is gross incompetence and I think some heads are going to roll.
Off this morning for 2 hours and right now its off again.
safarichat is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 08:08 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is there any news articles on this situation? Can you please provide links...I would like to educate myself on the situation
scootr29 is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 08:17 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are many, but here is one to start.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...0831390C904410
safarichat is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 08:32 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here's another link
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...4454463C230705
safarichat is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2008, 11:46 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
safarichat - Please forgive me for interjecting (from the peanut gallery) as this was directed to South Africans. But if I put myself in your shoes I would also be endlessly searching for ways to be ‘self-contained’ while maintaining hope that the situation gets better from a more desirable source for the masses.

I for sure would get genny’s for business and for personal use if I could, but I think I would like a combination of resources and am sure not all in my life could afford such. Chances are since you have to deal daily with this, you are aware of all kinds of large and small scale creative solutions, if you have already seen this then someone else might find it handy or just get a kick out of Dr. Cedrick Ngalande’s inexpensive power source idea for Africa that I ran into this morning on the www.afrigadget.com blog.

While I have not researched it, at a glance it appears quite clever to me and I think I may have some youth look into this one for a service project for some of my friends in EA. Hmmm, my lights are flickering as we are having a snowstorm with thunder and lightning (cool combo) at the moment!

Den
Denbasking is offline  
Old Jan 21st, 2008, 08:09 AM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Den
Thanks very much for your input but I have set up both my offices with genneys and UPS's already and as I write I am running on generators.
safarichat is offline  
Old Jan 21st, 2008, 08:11 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PS: There is nothing like being self-sufficient. I love it and I LOVE Africa
safarichat is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
amolkarnik
Africa & the Middle East
4
Feb 26th, 2008 11:51 AM
atravelynn
Africa & the Middle East
16
Jan 31st, 2008 07:58 AM
tashak
Africa & the Middle East
17
Dec 2nd, 2005 01:24 PM
Roccco
Africa & the Middle East
4
May 1st, 2003 08:55 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -