2022 has seen some of the worst periods of extended loadshedding to date, according to IOL. This has caused major headaches for those working from home, and for businesses that operate on a hybrid system employing remote workers as well as office-based staff. As a result, many of those who are able (up to 80%), are now returning, post-Covid, to the more formal office space where in-house power sources (such as inverters and generators) can prevent the type of disruptions experienced in people’s home work environment.
Loss of work productivity, continuity and lines of communication (all coming at a financial cost) is the alternative scenario for both big business and SMEs. While the initial cost implications can include renting additional floor space and purchasing new office equipment for previously remote-working staff, the price of not pivoting in response to increased loadshedding is likely to be even greater over time.
Some of the costs to consider if you take no action:
- Transport issues for staff
- Loss of important data
- Additional spend on security (such as more sophisticated alarm systems/batteries that can last for longer periods)
- Supply chain delays and disruptions
- Water supply issues and resulting cost of buying water
- Power surge damage or destruction of electronic equipment.
Ok, so not everyone has the choice of working from home or in an office environment, so what about those of us who don’t have the luxury of accessing a generator and must sit in the dark and do battle with power cuts? In a nutshell, it means planning for the future, biting the bullet, and forking out on alternative power sources to stay operating during increasingly severe blackouts. Although it does, of course, mean an initial financial outlay, it’s clear loadshedding is not going away soon, and you need to plan accordingly. This will save time wastage and frustration (and resulting financial strain) in the long run.
So what, then, should you be looking for in an inverter? Luckily there are some great options out there that will keep you operating off-grid whenever necessary:
Specs should ideally include:
- Solar inverter
- 5-to-10 hour charge capacity
- A solar charge controller for charging a battery bank
- Wide-ranging DC input
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Dual solar and charge options (if the battery runs low and you have access to electricity for a period of time)
- USB On-the Go function (to download data, update software and rewrite internal parameters
- BMS communication port
- Multiple unit operation ability.
While this checklist will come in handy, when faced with an array of alternative power source options, you may also find it useful to consult a reputable managed ICT services provider such as Castlerock, who will consult with you about your business’ individual needs, then formulate the right bespoke power solution (or solutions) to keep you running, no matter how long you are off-grid.
Choosing the right type of inverter solution will ensure that it will perform adequately to keep your operation running smoothly and without frustrating and costly interruptions, with maximum performance and security as a plus. After all, what works for someone else’s business may not be suitable for your own. Having Castlerock and our partners’ services (and up-to-the-minute tech) at your disposal, will have the additional benefit of maintenance to ensure your system’s health, and disaster recovery if anything does go wrong during an outage.
Don’t get caught napping next time there’s a loadshedding crisis, taking action now will mean when Eskom pulls the plug, you, and your business, will remain unaffected.
Contact us and let’s have a conversation about which power solution will work best for your operation, no matter the size.