In South Africa we have load shedding, where the power utility switches off large parts of the grid in an attempt to retain grid stability. Aging infrastructure

In South Africa we have load shedding, where the power utility switches off large parts of the grid in an attempt to retain grid stability. Aging infrastructure, incompetence and corruption means that we've been suffering like this for almost 15 years now. During active loadshedding we can expect multiple 2-4 hour outages during the day. UPSes dont work because the batteries are destroyed after a couple of sessions. Proper battery based backup solutions are prohibitively expensive for most. Most upper middle class households have backup generators installed, usually 4-7kW. If you can afford it, you install a full solar power system, allowing you to disconnect completely from the grid. We don't have gas, oil furnaces or other sources of power (other than solar for the wealthy as explained above), and for most our hot water is made with electricity. The unreliable grid has become a fact of life for all south africans, and we have adapted according to our means, all the way from a fully independent off grid solar soltion for the rich, down to candles for the poorest of poor. I keep candles in my cupboard in case my backup system fails.