Local online auction house and store Bidorbuy has reported a marked increase in the number of searches for generators in the last week. The etailer ascribes the increase to last week’s load-shedding and the public’s ongoing uncertainty about Eskom’s ability to keep the lights on.

In a press release, the company said that:

Taken together, the four most popular variates of the term (generator, generators, petrol generator and diesel generator) have climbed several hundred rungs to take the very top place among the most popular searches on the site during the past week. On average, bidorbuy.co.za records over five thousand searches for about three hundred terms every day.

In addition, South Africans are apparently also searching for gas-powered stoves, lamps and kitchen appliances on the site more than they were last week.