How does Power Alert work?

Power Alert is driven by the Media Residential Control Centre or MRCC which is in constant contact with Eskom’s control centres. The MRCC is thus able to evaluate and predict the strain on the electrical network in real time.

Where can I find Power Alerts?

• Power Alerts are generated and broadcasted on SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3 at 30-minute intervals between 18h00 and 21h00 on weekdays.
• Power Alerts are also available for 24 hours of each day on this website (www.poweralert.co.za).

The Power Alert will change from green to brown as the strain on the electricity network and the risk of power interruptions increase. Power Alert will also change from brown to green when this strain decreases.

Each Power Alert is accompanied by designed messages where residential households are asked to switch off certain appliances until notified by subsequent Power Alerts to switch them back on again. The Power Alerts are available on a National level, as well as a regional for designated regions. The Power Alerts may vary between the regions, depending on the individual power strain per region.

Energy saving hints and tips form part of the messages that accompany certain power alerts. Residential electricity consumers can apply these hints to save electricity in their households, and eventually electricity cost.

(The states illustrated below are for the "National" region only. Other regions' state descriptions may vary.)

The different states

	The electricity supply, nationally, is under severe strain which means that load shedding is in progress. Please switch off all loads except minimal lighting and your television set. This should continue for the remainder of the evening peak period or until the the status returns to red, orange or green.
	The electricity supply, nationally, is under increasing strain. Please switch off appliances such as stoves, microwaves, air-conditioners and kettles for the remainder of the evening peak period or until the status returns to orange.
	The electricity supply, nationally, is under strain. Please switch off non-essential appliances such as tumble dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, pool pumps and unnecessary lights for the duration of the evening peak period or until the status returns to green.
	There is limited strain on the electricity supply, nationally, but please use electricity wisely and switch off lights in unoccupied rooms.