Power-Less!
At the outset of this communiqué, let me iterate that this is not a gripe session, but we’re merely bringing to light a few overall facts, expressing one opinion and perhaps asking some fundamental questions that will undoubtedly require a solution if operating any small industry is to remain viable in South Africa.
When Blade Works was birthed some years ago the cost of electricity to run the operation on a monthly basis was truly a non-factor in terms of running expenses.
The ghastly fact of the matter is that today, that same power supply, without any significant increase in the volume output has risen by an incredible 800%; and suddenly powering up Blade Works is now the 4th largest expenditure coming in close behind salaries, rent and IT, whereas before the Eskom bill barely used to feature.
Faced with the challenge of new penalties being imposed on industry that doesn’t sustain stable power-usage, but ever hopeful for a solution to emerge from our dedicated staff, Blade Works management approached each division in the company and asked these talented folk to submit ideas on how the company could lower the usage on a permanent basis; thus avoiding the penalties while at the same time reducing the overall electricity bill –
Through no lack of trying, these are some of the responses:
- Operators, from editors to animators, decided that they could do away with all overhead lighting in the building and were willing to work in the dark as long as they had enough power for their workstations, this would suffice.
- As part of the keep-fit initiative the Operations Manager suggested that the parking garage gate should be made to operate manually requiring every employee and client to leap from their vehicle, push open the gate, drive through and push the gate closed again behind them – good exercise for everyone!
- Pudding proposed that all air-conditioners that heat and cool the offices be done away with and that staff and clients be equipped with blankets in the winter and hand held fans for the summer.
- Secretaries and receptionists will revert back to manually sharpening pencils – no more electric pencil sharpeners – and all correspondence henceforth could be hand written, thus saving on PC and printer power!
- The Blade Works kitchen suggested they only serve cold meals; only salads and sushi perhaps? While the waitresses tabled the idea that no more hot drinks are served and that they only offered water and cordials.
- Finally management decided that the Blade Works bar could serve only warm beer and wine and mixers at room temperature, which might lead to those after-work drinks not being very refreshing but hey, it’s all to save power!
Frankly…. I don’t think so!!
Running the generator full time could have been a solution, if in fact it didn’t cost more than the Eskom power supply while converting to gas is not an option in our business so, all jokes aside, the question still remains how can small industry survive this ever- growing crippling expense? When will the ‘Powers that Be’ realize that by penalizing small industry to subsidize rural communities, is doing nothing short of killing the increasingly fragile economy?
In the immortal words of John F Kennedy, “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In any economic crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.”
Well… Double Jack on ice please… Cheers! Here’s to finding a solution and recognizing the opportunity in this challenging situation!
