Cellphone and laptop batteries charged? Check.
Data bought? Check.
Hot water in the flask? Check.
Right, bring on Stage 4 load shedding.
Can you believe it?
Four days from the local elections and the power is off.
Matric exams are in progress and there's no electricity at schools.
At a time when the ANC government should be impressing voters with what they can expect over the next term, Eskom is light out.
The reason?
"Over the past 24 hours, a unit each at Medupi, Kusile and Matla power stations tripped, while a unit each at Lethabo and Arnot power stations were forced to shut down,’’ the power utility said on Wednesday.
"This constrained the power system further, requiring extensive use of emergency reserves and therefore hampering the recovery of these reserves.
"Some generating units have returned to service and we anticipate another two units to return to service during the day.
"The total breakdowns currently amount to 14 957 MW, while planned maintenance is 5 301 MW of capacity.
’’The implementation of Stage 4 load shedding is therefore no cause for alarm as the power system remains to be effectively controlled."
Same old story. Breakdowns and maintenance required.
Eskom, once the powerhouse of Africa, has become a pap battery, an ailing dinosaur still running on fossil fuel.
Dodgy coal deals are one of the reasons why the power company is in the financial mess it's in.
Then again mismanagement and corruption have been the downfall of almost all our state-owned enterprises - SAA, SABC, SA Post Office, among others.
Before and during Cyril Ramaphosa's time in office.
Does the ANC government have the political will and ability to turn things around?
You decide. You can, literally. The elections are on Monday.
Fortunately here in the Mother City, City of Cape Town customers have been slightly insulated from the full shock of load shedding.
Thanks to the power generated by Steenbras dam hydro electric power station (up to 180 MW), residents have been able to stay one level ahead of the rest of the country.
Well done to the DA - for getting something right.
They really should change their motto to: At least we're not as bad as the ANC.
The party of the white and wealthy however needs to do a lot more to prove that they care about improving the lives of residents of the Cape Flats and townships, where service delivery is... shocking.
You only need to page through the Daily Voice to see how mense are sukkeling with overflowing drains, water and electricity issues.
But hey, this is not a two-horse race.
As I said before, the important thing to note with the municipal elections is that it's not about voting a new party into government.
You can vote to make a change in your area and even your street.
If your current ward councillor is not doing enough, vote someone else in, even an independent candidate who is committed to uplifting your community.
But don't NOT vote and then moan when your local representatives let you down.