Eskom -- it's the information, stupid!

I am quite unable to see why some of Eskom’s computer geeks have not been able to solve at least one part of the energy crisis. Everyone keeps complaining that they don’t know when the power is going to go down, and that Eskom’s website is very unclear.

Why not simply put a map of South Africa, down to street level, up on the site and allow people to register their cellphone number for notification if the particular street they signed up for is going to go down?

People could register one block or a suburb at a time, or more than one if they are concerned about their business, home and granny’s flat. Businesses can advertise on the site, in the right area, so if I click on my home suburb to register, the local restaurants could offer discounts if I bring in my proof of registration, to encourage registration.

Service of a sort is available on Google, for example, where you can have notice of your appointments SMSed to you (but not in South Africa, natch — and when can I start shopping on iTunes, anyway?).

If load shedding is planned, you could receive an SMS advising when and for which of your locations; so “home blackout in 3 hours” or “business 1 blackout in 4 hours”. The reason you want many people to register is so that they can pass it on, as in “Don’t get in the lift, the power’s going down,” or “I’d put the scalpel down if I were you, blackout in 10 minutes.” Or, of course, “Let’s see Table Mountain another day, dear.”

It seems technically easy, and the only problem I can see is if Eskom genuinely doesn’t know where it is all going to happen. I would hope this is not true, because then it is misleading the country and the president, and I’ve already been misled by the president often enough, thanks. Information is power, right?