Load shedding occurs when demand for electricity exceeds a supplier’s capacity, leading to controlled rationing of electricity to certain users at certain times. It is a planned alternative to blackouts, which are unplanned and can cause inconvenience and damage to networks. Load shedding is often referred to as rolling blackout and involves schedules to distribute shortages across networks.
The electricity used by people is generally produced and supplied by companies. Load shedding results when people demand more electricity than a business needs to deliver. To resolve the situation, that company may have to deny electricity to certain users at certain times. Load shedding is sometimes referred to as rolling blackout. This can be a bit deceiving as blackouts are usually unplanned.
Many people take electricity for granted. This is often because people think electricity is unlimited. In many parts of the world, especially developing countries, this is not true.
Providing electricity involves converting some type of resource into energy that can be used to produce the electricity needed. For example, coal or hydroelectric power can be used. The companies involved in this process usually have limited capacity, meaning they can only produce so much. There are also cases where the resources used to produce electricity are limited or unavailable.
Load shedding occurs when consumers demand supply levels that exceed their suppliers’ capabilities. When these types of threats loom, people are often warned to save electricity and limit consumption. This strategy often proves ineffective, so suppliers have to resort to more drastic measures.
A blackout is usually an uncontrolled power outage. If excessive requests are left unresolved, this will be the result. Blackouts, however, can be problematic. Since consumers have no indication of when a blackout will occur, they may experience undue inconvenience. For providers, blackouts can cause damage to networks.
Load shedding is a controlled alternative response to excess demand. To ease the burden on themselves and their consumers, suppliers can start rationing electricity. Instead of allowing a blackout to occur, which could cause many people to go out of power for an unknown length of time, providers can shut down the flow themselves.
This is usually part of a plan. Suppliers decide how best to distribute electricity so that the burden of shortages can be spread across their networks. Load shedding often involves schedules that determine which areas will be denied power and at what time it will happen.
For this reason, load shedding is referred to as rolling blackout. First, the flow of electricity is cut off in an area for a predetermined amount of time. Then, supplies are reconnected in that area and disconnected elsewhere. In many cases, people in affected areas, especially businesses such as supermarkets that depend on electricity, are being notified in advance.
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