HIGHVELD – Govan Mbeki Municipality installed a new transformer in an extension in eMbalenhle last week after the community was without electricity from 24 to 26 January.
According to the municipality, the power was off due to a damaged transformer.
This is a problem that is encountered in all the towns within the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
Faulty transformers are a huge challenge for the municipality.
Every day residents visit the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s technical offices to complain about the electricity, especially during the winter.
Sometimes people march in groups to this department because of a burnt or damaged transformer that left them with no electricity for days.
A transformer costs more than R100 000 and in the Govan Mbeki Municipality one transformer supplies more than its capacity, meaning it is overloaded.
The municipality changes five to six transformers a month. In some cases, a transformer lasts only a couple of days before it explodes.
Govan Mbeki Municipality’s executive mayor, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, said in a press briefing held at the municipal auditorium, that the municipality is changing transformers like they change their socks.
Mr Zuma said the transformers do not last, because of overloading.
He said they are in the process of splitting the load for their transformers to last longer and to lessen the expenses of the municipality.
Govan Mbeki municipality mostly uses 100kVA,22/0.4,415kV pole-mounted transformers in their townships.
Mr Zuma raised the electricity capacity issue at eMbalenhle and said it is a big frustration to the municipality.
“We have a problem with changing transformers like socks, especially during peak hours and the winter.
“The life span of a transformer is supposed to be 10 years or more, but here they only last for three to six months,” said Mr Zuma.
According to Mr Zuma, the municipality will install additional transformers to split the load and voltages to avoid overloading.
The municipality also pleaded with residents to use electricity sparingly to avoid damaging the infrastructure.
