Power Shedding

One of, if not the biggest frustration living in Botswana is for the tendency for the power to simply cut off at random times and for random lengths of time.  There is never any warning, as far as I can tell and like I say it is totally random.  Mid-morning; afternoon; early evening; late evening; over night.

I think the basic problem is simple; the demand for electricity in southern Africa has shot up through the roof while the ability to produce power has dragged way behind.  Moreover, there seems to be a huge systematic management and oversight issue in the South African Power Authority.

Botswana has limited capacity to produce electricity and for some reason has not jumped on to solar energy in a big way.  For that matter you don’t see much solar energy in new houses.  It seems like a crazy oversight.

So, what invariably happens, and I gather it gets worse in the winter months when a lot of electrical space heaters get switched on, is that power must be rationed or shared.  Power shedding or brownout or the equivalent.  Not an accident, not a transmission problem such as down wired.  Simply no electricity to be used.

No electricity during the daylight hours is a relatively minor convenience compared to after 7 p.m. when it is dark out.  No lights; not much to do.

Interesting enough my laptop and our portable Wi-Fi router are battery operated.  Therefore, the power can go off and if I have kept the laptop charged up, along with the router, I can work away on the computer and on the internet without a bother.  It just becomes a case of learning to keep your equipment charged up.

The other way to adapt is to have a dual gas/electrical stove.  If there is power, you can cook with electricity.  If the power happens to go out.  Turn on the gas (propane) burners and carry on!  Hot tea anytime you want it.