Cadence
Power window tree
A Power window tree keeps your team moving during load-shedding, even when the lights and WiFi drop out for hours.
Ask about cadences
When to pull out this card
If your team risks sitting idle during Stage 4 load-shedding or you keep missing deadlines because the electricity cuts mid-task, it’s time to set up a repeatable load-shedding rhythm. The Power window tree is best for floor-driven businesses: think Kwena’s Tyre Shop near Krugersdorp or Sipho’s Print House in Port Shepstone. Use this card when scheduled outages are weekly, hit different areas, or shift at short notice. It helps you decide exactly who does what, and when, before Eskom pulls the plug.
Whether you’re running printers, tile cutters, or fridges, your whole ops can work off this printed cadence. If you’re ever unsure how much to plan for, or you want to see what other small business owners are using, check out our cadence page and starter kit FAQ.
The load-shedding rhythm in slots
Each slot is a bite-sized window mapped to your local load-shedding schedule, school run, or key supplier drop-off. It’s simple to fill in and pin up by the kettle or gate. Here’s a typical Power window tree. Edit for your crews and hours.
- 06:00-08:00: Morning prep (Floor Supervisor: Gugu)
- 08:00-10:30: Machines on, fast jobs first (Operator: Themba)
- 10:30-12:00: Admin, quotes, phone orders (Owner: Dineo)
- 12:00-13:00: Lunch, no power, check inverter (All staff)
- 13:00-15:30: Deliveries, supplier runs (Driver: Sipho)
- 15:30-17:00: Stock count, floor reset (Supervisor: Gugu)
Times are flexible for Port Shepstone’s later sunrise or Krugersdorp’s early knock-off. Adjust as needed for your business.
Who owns each slot and how it bends
Assign every slot to one named person, no team has time to argue last-minute. When Stage 6 hits, or a public holiday lands midweek, your rhythm needs to flex. If a Friday is a public holiday, shift any timed bank runs (say to ABSA in Krugersdorp central) to Thursday. If power is off 08:00-12:30, push the admin slot to after lunch, and run your generator only for high-priority machines. Every slot owner adjusts their bit before the day starts, so there’s no scramble at the gate.
Keep your Power window tree on paper first, then update your main ops board if you must. If your supplier’s cut-off moves (like courier pick-ups in the Port Shepstone CBD), mark that slot in red. For help with good supplier habits, check out our supplier page.
A local example, filled in
Take Mzansi Jam Co, a five-person team in Port Shepstone. Their week’s rhythm, stuck up next to the ingredient fridge, looks like this in winter: Sihle opens up at 06:30 (slot: fridge check). By 07:00, Thandi logs orders with the wireless still up. When the load-shedding hits at 09:00, Noma moves straight to hand-labelling jam jars and prepping delivery notes. After 10:30, Sihle checks gas for the stove, important because, last Friday, they ran out and lost three litres of guava batch. Lunch at 12:00 is candle-lit. Sipho cycles to the local bank between 15:00-16:00, but if Tuesday is a public holiday, he shifts to Monday. You’d be surprised how often the plan changes just because a supplier in Margate closes early.
For more checklists, Power window ideas, or to see how other small businesses manage public holidays, take a look at our starter kits and about page.
