Chaotic loadshedding management 

By Daily Revelation Editor 

“Yes the extended hours and some of the inconsistent timings in terms of loadshedding has affected our members considerably. It is becoming a problem to plan your production with this kind of … with this extended loadshedding, and also the timing is not being adhered to all the times,” says Zambia Manufacturers Association president Ashu Saga.

During this very difficult load shedding period, where Zambians are enduring so many hours in the dark on account of increased darkness to 12-hours, the importance of proper communication strategy and timing by the utility company cannot be overstated. If people are going to have only a few hours of electricity everyday, at least every effort must be employed to ensure that there is proper planning so that they do not miss out a second on the time allocated for them to have electricity.

As Ashu has pointed out, proper communication strategy and timing ensures that people can plan properly for the few hours they are going to have electricity available to them on a daily basis.

There are reports actually that since this load shedding regime was implemented, others have actually spent more time in the dark than the timetables suggest. We surely can’t be a country that allows the utility company to impose more discrimination in the midst of the heavy pain already being endured. In chaotic fashion, today Zesco will come come with a staggered regime, the next time they do away completely with the same. They indicate for instance that in a certain group, electricity will be taken away at 05:00 hours and be restored at 13:00 hours during the now discarded 8-hour load shedding regime. However, when people wake up at 02:00 hours they are met with darkness and not exactly sure when power will be restored. Of course the 8-hour regime has now been replaced with 12-hours, with more darkness expected in the coming months if not weeks at the rate we are going.

If not well handed, this energy crisis will worsen things further in the country.

The barber man or welder in the market for instance will be able to plan their work schedule properly with a well timed schedule. The Manufacturers Association is already saying that their production has been affected by 50 percent. Already this entails that to keep up their costs, several companies will have to lay off some workers leading to increased unemployment and more poverty at household level. The reduced production levels and output will further feed into reduced economic activity and growth and subsequently more poverty in the country.

Those firms which may not be too lucky, will not just lay off their workers but will follow that up by closing out entirely.

Efficient planning in the midst of little can therefore go a long way in helping the country to meander through this very difficult period the country is going through. And Zesco therefore has a huge challenge in that regard. They must rid themselves of the chaos they have allowed to prevail in the management of this load shedding regime.

Other strategies that are being worked on to mitigate the situation should also be sped up, like on the smart metering options so that those who can can have selective supply for people who are willing to pay for emergency supply.