Prepaid electricity in the main, is quite a good concept to look into if you are still running a post paid system and are struggling with exorbitant monthly fees and costs. If you are controlling your energy spend with the post paid method, then this is in order however it can easily become a costly expense. Prepaid electricity too, are not without it’s errors and issues and below we will discuss some very common errors you will come across some time or the other with your prepaid electricity set-up:

Error Messages: 

1. SAD face – probably means it is just finger trouble in typing the token number – please retry
2. DDDD –  Duplicated token. The token has probably been entered already, causing this error. Please double check.
3. Error 30 – Technical error on your meter. To try and troubleshoot this error, please switch off your meter, as well as your electricity mains and give it a few minutes. Afterwards, turn back on your mains and meter back on and retry your token. If the error 30 persists, please contact your municipality and get a technician to come out and have a look at the meter.

Meter Blocked? – It does occur that a meter is blocked by a municipality’s credit control. This means that the municipality prevents your meter from making a prepaid purchase until the block is lifted. To have this lifted the client needs to sort this out with the municipality.

While we are on the subject, also important to note that any outstanding fees on your utility bill that is deemed to be in arrears, can be deducted from your prepaid electricity purchase. If this takes place, it is wise to contact the municipality to resolve this.

For more information please visit: https://straton.co.za/pre-paid/about/prepaid-meter-error-codes/

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South Africans have again been cautioned to become acclimated to control power outages for essentially the following 5 years.

The force utility executed stage two burden shedding as it battles to recuperate from various breakdowns.

Energy expert Ted Blom blames Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter: Eighteen months ago, he said he would have all the plants refurbished and that load shedding would end. Earlier this year, he has come out to say he is not going to spend that money on refurbishing the plants and it would be a better investment to put into renewable. Blom accepts the accentuation on renewable was misguided: “It is far and away more terrible because, with renewable, they are discussing battery stockpiling. there is no utility size battery stockpiling plants accessible any place on the planet. No nation is running battery stockpiling as reinforcement.”

As load shedding was implemented the last few days, Eskom could conduct some repairs to generating units and the maintenance programme proceed. Despite the fact that they were not able to replenish emergency generation reserves, but could reply on support system.

There are still risks to some generating units, which will pressurize Eskom to implement load shedding at short notice. Electricity still needs to be used sparingly to prevent possibility of load shedding. we also have to note that water pumps are also connected to electricity that supply water to the community meaning water can also be affected by load shedding.

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• Windows can be used keep out heat like: Installing coverings for windows
• Use ventilation and fan strategies to cool your house. You can use the bathroom fan to remove heat. You can turn the ceiling fans off when you leave the room
• Make sure that furniture is not blocking the airflow through your registers
• You can make more use of day lighting then switching on the lights in your home and workplace
• To prevent warm air to leak into your home, you can seal all openings and cracks.
• Switch off and unplug unnecessary appliances such as televisions, iron, and kettles when not in use.
• Turn down the water heater and adjust your thermostat
• Close blinds to prevent sun coming in when it is sunny day or when it’s cold to prevent absorbing the cold air.
• You may as well install energy efficient bulbs

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Late last year, South Africa saw the unforeseen implementation of stage 6 load shedding. The chairperson of Eskom Jabu Mabuza attributed the current crisis at Eskom to poor maintenance.

“Some of the reason we find ourselves where we are today is owing to maintenance not being done” he said.

The public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan on his hand sees the situation manageable. “It is not a bug crisis, it is something we are managing” said Pravin Gordhan.

The year 2019 was the worst year of load shedding according to a report by the council for specific and industrial research (CSIR).

In 2019 load shedding cost South Africa between R60 billion and R120 billion.

The total economic impact of load shedding over the past 10 years, could be a high as R338 billion.

How Load shedding affects you 

1. Stage 1: Requires the least amount of the load shedding (Up to 1,000 MW) and can be implemented three times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or three times over an eight-day period for 4 hours at a time.
2. Stage 2: Will double the frequency of the stage 1, which means you will be scheduled for load shedding six times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or six times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.
3. Stage 3: Will increase the frequency of the stage 2 by 50 percent, which means you will be scheduled of load shedding nine times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or nine times over an eight day period for four hours at a time.
4. Stage 4: Will double the frequency of the stage 2, which means you will be scheduled for load shedding 12 times over a four-day period for two hours at a time, or 12 times over an eight-day period for four hours at a time.

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These value climbs are as of now sifting through to end-clients in various municipalities, as seen with ongoing value change notices from areas like the City of Joburg. The bank’s information shows that power spend is one of the biggest spend categories for section to working class clients, where the normal power spend by a client who holds its Entry Market bank account (Easy Account) increased by 9% (on average) between 2019 and 2020.

The normal month to month power spend by a centre market (Gold Account) client expanded by 15% while a mass-prosperous (Premier Account) client through 14% more on power a similar period. It added that clients routinely go to eBucks to enhance their power buys, utilizing R4.5 million worth of eBucks for power buys over a similar period.

“The reality is that all customers will need to factor a 15% increase on what they have been spending on electricity on a monthly basis, on account of a family spends generally R500 each month on power, that family needs to factor in any event an extra R75 to what they have been paying.

Fuel Price Increase

Drivers will likewise have to battle with higher fuel costs in April, with the cost of petrol now somewhere in the range of R1 and 95cents a litre more costly. The cost of 95 (ULP and LRP) went up R1 on Wednesday 7 April 2021, while the cost of 93 (ULP and LRP) climbed 95 cent a litre. In the interim, diesel (o,05% sulphur) increased by 65.20 cents a litre, while the cost of diesel (0,005% Sulphur) went up by 63.20 cents a litre.

Te cost of illuminating paraffin went up by 34.80 cents.The cost of illuminating paraffin (SMNRP) increased by 35 cents, while the greatest retail cost for LPGAS increased by 48 cents for each kilogram. With effect from 07 April 2021, the fuel levy in the price structure of petrol and diesel will therefore amount to 393 and 379 cents a litre respectively.

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How?

Simply add or save our whatsApp number 0443822484 to your smart phone and refresh your WhatsApp contact list, and you should be able to now send us a message directly to that number!

You can now send us a message or you can send us screen shots of the issue you are experiencing on Android, iOs, Windows mobile and Web as displayed by the images below. So go ahead and test it out! 

Our other support channels include:

Email: support@powertime.co.za

Office line: (021) 911 5611

Messenger: m.me/PowertimeZA

And of course, our live chat feature on our website!

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However it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom with these outages, here are 5 activities suggested by Powertime which you can do when you next get hit with stage 4 load shedding, provided you are free to do them!

1. Take a walk or bike ride – Perhaps you’ve been meaning to hit the gym but haven’t had the chance, or you have been a bit lethargic lately, the 2 hour power outages can be the perfect catalyst to get in shape. Healthy body, healthy mind.
2.  Take a nap – This is a good opportunity to catch up on some much needed zzz’s. If you are at work, I’m sure the boss won’t be able to see you in the dark – well, might be a bit difficult to not get noticed if you snore!
3. Play some board/card games – These days, with the age of technology, we’ve lost our kids to the internet, and computer and console games. Round the family up and have good ‘ol fun with some board games.
4. Socialize – The electricity lines maybe switched down but your cellphone and personal communication lines with your family surely isn’t. Find out how they are
5. Read a book – Like most things we procrastinate, this is probably very high up the list. What better motivation if you literally have very little else to than to pick up a book and read. Who knows, it might crack open views or give you great ideas that could be of great benefit to you!

So there you have it, no need to mop the floor with your mouth when the lights are down,

Get up and do something different!

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In 2021 it would have predicted that the energy requirement is intended to grow with 3%. This means that the global demand will be higher than in 2019. An additional of two-thirds demand is expected in Asia Pacific region. Most of this growth is dense in India and China and is expected to grow by 3.6% and 5.2%. These countries show remarkable growth in the end of 2020.

The biggest uncertainty for electricity demand in 2021 is that the further development of the Covid-19 pandemic and the measurement that needs to be taken to stop the spreading and availability and also the effectiveness of vaccines. The commercial sector was hit hard by the constant lockdown measurements. Supporting business and economic prospect depend on government stimulus packages.

Related emission and electricity supply in 2021

It is expected that the electricity demand is about to recover, most likely that fossil fuel-based will regain some of it that was lost in 2020. Coal is expected to see a huge recovery- but has suffered great losses in 2020. Due to increasing gas prices coal is expected to recover half of its losses in 2020.

Renewable energy like wind and solar PV are growing by 11% and 17%. A total of 29% renewable are approaching a global market share. The growth of low-carbon electricity is expected to exceed fossil-fuel in 2021 – but the global emissions could rise again.

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Advantage 

• Wave energy is renewable, you will never run out
• It is environment friendly
• There is a variety of ways to Harness (Lots of ways to gather it)
• No harm to the land
• Less dependency companies for fossil
• Wave energy is very reliable
• A huge amount of energy can be produced in the waves.

Disadvantage 

• Only available to certain locations
• Dependent on wavelength
• Can be nosing to those who live close by
• Cost of production might be enormous

Research has shown that Oceans cover three quarters of the earth’s surface which constitute a natural energy resource in the form of waves. Also in the UK it has been evaluated that the recoverable wave energy resources exceeded the electricity demand. If there is a less that 0.1% of the renewable energy within the oceans that could be translated into electricity it would be very content in the future.

The two basic elements of technology is a collector to capture the wave energy and a turbo generator to convert the wave power into electricity. in the UK wave energy collectors are used in a form of partially submerged shell which seawater is free to enter and leave. When the water enters or leaves, the level of water in the chamber rises or falls.

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Rooftop Solar Panels

This is probably the most common and obvious method, if you’re looking into renewable power. Solar panels typically go on your roof, although you can also install them in your yard. If your current roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, you could also consider investing in solar shingles. Where standard rooftop solar panels are mounted on top of your current roof, solar shingles actually take the place of your roof tiles.

Wind Turbines

Wind turbines are commonly found on wind-farms or floating offshore somewhere, but if you have enough real estate you can install a small wind turbine on your property to power your home.

Solar Oven

Maybe you’re not ready to power your entire home with renewable energy as yet. That’s a big project, and maybe it’s just not feasible for various reasons. You can still power a part of your home with renewable energy by building a solar oven. Solar ovens are typically a science fair project, but ovens actually use quite a bit of electricity. Using the sun to passively heat your food is a good way to get started in the world of renewable energy.

Hydro Power

This won’t work for most people, but if your property contains a source of flowing water, you’re in luck. You can divert some or all of the stream or river to flow through a turbine and power your home.

Solar Water Heating

Solar water heaters use the sun to heat a reserve of water, which can then be pumped through your radiators or out your faucets or showerheads. This system is much cheaper than using gas or electricity to heat your water, and is easier to install than solar panels.

Solar Air Conditioning

Air conditioning uses more electricity than almost anything else in your home. Air conditioning can cost you quite a bit amount of money every year, especially if you have central air and you live in a hot climate. Using hot water to cool your home can save you money and help the environment.

Tesla Powerwall

The Powerwall is a large rechargeable battery that can store several kilowatt-hours of electricity. On its own, it can be programmed to charge itself from the grid when electricity is on, and discharge when you’re hit by load-shedding or there is a disruption in the supply.

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