When power is restored after load shedding, it creates a sudden surge of electricity that exceeds the regular voltage, causing damage to electrical equipment and appliances connected to the mains power.
The frequency of power outages directly correlates with the number of requests for electrical repairs made by consumers.
The EskomSePush App data shows that load shedding was at its worst in October and January over the last six months. Correspondingly, the number of requests for electrical repairs on Procompare surged during this period.
The demand for electrical repairs covered a wide range of appliances, including air conditioners, refrigerators, geysers, gate motors and others, indicating that load shedding is indeed causing electrical systems to malfunction and break down.
Electricians overwhelmed by load shedding repairs as outages spike
While electricians are experiencing an increase in workload, they have less time to complete the required repairs. Load shedding is affecting their business both positively and negatively.
During load shedding, I can't fix anything. -- Aadam Parson, electrician
“It causes a lot of problems that require my attention, but there’s less time for fixing them. I can’t fix something that is off, so I have to work around the load shedding,” says Aadam Parson, the owner of Abacas Electrical Solution company from Cape Town, who is working with Procompare for a number of years now.
- The demand for electrical repairs has been steadily increasing year-over-year, with a significant spike in October where it more than doubled (139%) compared to the same month in the previous year.
- In December and January it grew by a staggering 218% and 371% in comparison to last year, which corresponds to the severity of rolling blackouts in that period.
- High-demand for electricians continued in February (113%), along with the unrelenting power outages.
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Why do power cuts harm electronic equipment?
Load shedding can result in electrical appliances breaking down from a sudden increase in voltage when power is restored. Typically, homes run on 230 volts, but the surge can go beyond this level, leaving nearby devices and appliances vulnerable to harm. This voltage spike is the primary cause of equipment failure during load shedding, posing a significant problem in South Africa.
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Additional information:
Boris Upelj
boris.upelj@procompare.co.za
WhatsApp: +27 72 210 3606
