Metro warns on extended hours without electricity
The Department of Utilities expects the power reduction by Eskom to hamper electricity infrastructure and staff response times.
The Tshwane metro has warned residents of possible prolonged power outages outside stage 6 load-shedding schedules.
The department of utilities expects the power reduction by Eskom to hamper electricity infrastructure and staff response times.
MMC for utilities and regional operations Daryl Johnston said load-shedding often resulted in additional outages due to high surges and overloading of the networks, as well as vandalism and theft of infrastructure.
“This situation is very serious for the entire Tshwane.”
On Thursday, the metro team had already responded to several outages in Centurion, Blue Valley, Mamelodi, Ekangala, Mooikloof, Moreletapark, Pretorius Parks and extensions, The Wilds, Garsfontein, Mooikloof Ridge, Woodhill Golf Estate, Olympus and Boardwalk.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams has since the implementation of stage 6 load-shedding directed City Manager, Johann Mettler, to establish a multidisciplinary team comprising service delivery departments and regional operations committee members to resolve power outages and other related matters.
MV AREA OUTAGES:
Wards 45, 101 and 91 Mooikloof Sub. Portion of Moreletapark, Pretorius Parks and extensions, The Wilds, portion of Garsfontein, Mooikloof Ridge, Woodhill Golf Estate, Olympus, Boardwalk , Bronberg, MK, O61 , O108 , RFW and RFW MV rural lines affected.
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) December 8, 2022
Areas currently having power outages attended to, are:
– Clubview, Valhalla and Zwartkop: The artisans initially reduced the load to avoid continuous trips after load-shedding switchbacks. Thereafter, the power was gradually restored to the suburbs.
– Kosmodal: A team of technicians is on-site busy fixing the second cable which will be tested before energising. The estimated time for restoration will be disclosed in due course.
– Soshanguve: Materials have been sourced. The inclement weather continues to be a challenge, however, technicians remain on-site to effect the necessary repairs.
Update on Mamelodi 3 sub
– Received reports of area power outage affecting Mahube Valley sub and its areas including Mahube ext.1, ext.2, ext.3, Mamelodi ext.10, ext.17, Phase 2 and Phase 4.
– Ops team to drive the line for finalizing the investigation.
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) December 8, 2022
Update on N4 Gateway and part of Nellmapius:
Team managed to isolate a faulty cable between panel 17 and T4 Alwyn/ Sefatanaga.
The cable fault located, 240mm2 3c cable material finally secured, repairs done and SOs informed to energize it.
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) December 8, 2022
“Stage 6 load-shedding means that rolling blackouts will be implemented between two to three times per day, resulting in a minimum of six hours without electricity per day.”
He warned residents that Tshwane’s resources would be stretched to the limit as electricity teams were deployed across Tshwane to implement load-shedding, as directed by Eskom.
“The same team that has to perform the load-shedding task of switching on and off electricity across Tshwane also plays a critical role in the repair and maintenance of our electricity network.
“This means that the team will have significantly less time available to work on restoring electricity in terms of power outages not related to load-shedding.”
Johnston said the reality was that systems were not designed to cope with the levels of load-shedding implemented by Eskom.
“The heavy rains we have experienced recently also make this situation worse, with wet weather increasing the likelihood of equipment faults.”
Johnston said Tshwane’s energy and electricity department remained committed to work through the pressure.
He pleaded for the assistance of residents to help officials limit the negative effects of load-shedding by switching off appliances and any other high energy-consuming machinery during load-shedding.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said the power utility would publish further updates as soon as there were any significant changes.
Mantshantsha said due to the depletion of the budget to acquire diesel for the open cycle gas turbines, Eskom was also forced to strictly preserve the remaining diesel for any extreme emergency such as multiple, simultaneous trips of generators.
He said the long-term operation project at Koeberg nuclear power station, together with offline units at Kusile power station, meant load-shedding could continue over the next six to 12 months.
“Eskom requests the public to exercise patience and tolerance during this difficult period.
“Load-shedding is implemented only as a last resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to breakdowns.”
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