How does Load shedding affect my Electricity Consumption?

When electricity supply is switched off for intermittent periods, it can affect electricity consumption negatively. The main power consumer in a normal household is the geyser (which can consume between 40 to 60% of total consumption) The geyser keeps water at a constant temperature range as set by the geyser thermostat. When power supply is disconnected for a few hours during the day or night, the water temperature in the geyser can drop substantially which then uses more electricity to heat back to the set temperature range. A smart geyser controller can however allow water to cool down in the geyser but is programmed to the users specific consumption patterns and when hot water is needed. These units can therefore save on electricity consumption due to the power disconnection to the geyser being planned scientifically and not being switched off at random times for extended periods like in the case of load shedding.

Users also often generally switch on high electricity consuming devices such as kettles, heaters, air conditioning etc. before and after load shedding for longer / more than normal that can also result in higher consumption. These changes in behaviour can also exacerbate higher consumption during winter periods when load shedding is also more prevalent.

If electricity is load shed for 4 hours a day, that is actually only 17% of cut electricity supply, the effects of this though could result in similar or even higher electricity consumption on average and the expectation that consumption and resulting billing will be lower when load shedding took place is actually not the case.