Six ways to minimise the impact of load shedding on your small business*

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  1. Generator: The size of generator you’ll need depends on your electrical requirements. For, example if you need to power three computers, a kettle and lights, a 2KW generator should be enough. If you have a shop with fridges, air conditioning and a till, you’ll need at least a 5KW on, and if you have a guesthouse with 10 rooms, you’ll need a 10KW. Generators can be mobile or fixed (like an air-conditioning unit). Mobile units can be bought at most home or building stores – just be sure to phone around ahead of time as demand might be high. Take an inventory of your most vital electrical appliances when you speak to an expert so that they can suggest the right option for your business.

 

  1. UPS: An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) works both as a back-up battery for your computer and regulates the amount of power it receives. As soon as the power switches off, the UPS switches on. In short, it makes sure that your equipment performs a proper shutdown until you then connect to a generator, preventing, for example, data corruption.

 

  1. Surge protection: There are various devices available to protect your electrical equipment from surges when the supply voltage fluctuates. The most cost-effective ones look like multi-plugs and let you plug multiple components into one power outlet. Look into this, particularly if you live in a rural area where the quality of supply is unpredictable. As mentioned previously, large fluctuations in supply voltage can damage electronic equipment.

 

  1. Back up your data: If your business is computer-based, it’s crucial to back up your data often and to put measures in place to keep your data safe. The last thing you want is to lose files or work you’ve done during this time.

 

  1. Back-up batteries: Be sure to keep your laptop and smartphone charged before the power goes off. Alternatively, invest in battery packs or even solar-powered charging solutions, which brings us to:

 

  1. Solar-powered solutions: There are many solar-powered options to power your electrical gate, charge your cell phone and laptop or provide much needed lighting. You could also go off the grid completely by swapping electrical power for solar power. However, this can be a costly exercise and might not be suitable to all businesses.

 

*Note:
It is recommended that you have the above installed by a professional as an inaccurate installation could pose a risk to your business and have insurance implications. Remember to notify your insurer of the installation and specify whether the equipment/device is portable or fixed to your business premises.