loadshedding
Scheduled power cuts
Loadshedding is the deliberate shutdown of electrical power in parts of a grid to prevent the entire system from failing when demand exceeds supply.
Utilities rotate outages through different areas so the burden is shared: We lost power for two hours during loadshedding.
The practice is routine in countries with unreliable electrical infrastructure, particularly South Africa, where scheduled loadshedding has become a fact of daily life.
Distribution of shares
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- quotaFixed assigned amount
- restrictionLimit on action
- curtailmentAct of reducing scope
Luminescence from burning wick
- lanternsEnclosed portable light sources
- darknessTotal absence of light
- flashlightsPortable battery-powered lamps
- torchesPortable fire on poles
generator · inverter · UPS · candles · kerosene · paraffin · battery · backup
Electricity-producing machine
- inverterChanges DC to AC
- solar panelLight-to-power converter
- battery backupReserve electrical supply unit
- UPSRaises or elevates
gas stove · cooler box · ice · thermos · meal prep · energy saving · prepaid meter · off-peak
Energy from charged particles
- voltageElectrical potential difference
- transformerVoltage-altering electrical device
- substationPower distribution point
- kilowattThousand watts of power
megawatt · transmission · distribution · capacity · utility · maintenance · network · supply
Raised performance platform
- schedulePlan of timed events
- timetableArranged list of events
- rotationTurning on an axis
- blockSolid mass, or impede
area · zone · municipality · notification · app · alert · warning · hours
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- inconvenienceMinor difficulty or trouble
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- delayEnforced waiting period
- interruptionBreak in continuity
downtime · spoilage · remote work · deadline · traffic lights · water pump · refrigeration · frozen food
allocation
Distribution of shares
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- quotaFixed assigned amount
- restrictionLimit on action
candlelight
Luminescence from burning wick
- lanternsEnclosed portable light sources
- darknessTotal absence of light
- flashlightsPortable battery-powered lamps
torches · generator · inverter · UPS · candles · kerosene · paraffin · battery · backup · emergency lighting
generator
Electricity-producing machine
- inverterChanges DC to AC
- solar panelLight-to-power converter
- battery backupReserve electrical supply unit
UPS · gas stove · cooler box · ice · thermos · meal prep · energy saving · prepaid meter · off-peak · candles
electricity
Energy from charged particles
- voltageElectrical potential difference
- transformerVoltage-altering electrical device
- substationPower distribution point
kilowatt · megawatt · transmission · distribution · capacity · utility · maintenance · network · supply · demand
stage
Raised performance platform
block · area · zone · municipality · notification · app · alert · warning · hours · slot
frustration
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- inconvenienceMinor difficulty or trouble
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- delayEnforced waiting period
interruption · downtime · spoilage · remote work · deadline · traffic lights · water pump · refrigeration · frozen food · alarm system
- South AfricaCape Town, Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela, Pretoria, Durban
- African Governmentparliament, legislature, judiciary, executive, presidency