Residents experience change overload

The tripping of power due to overloading, has residents hot under the collar.

Winter heralded electricity interruptions on a scale last experienced when municipal workers’ strike, brought utter darkness to Standerton.

The community and the South African Municipal Workers Union then faced each other in Mbonani Mayisela Street, in front of the Lekwa Municipality.

Strongly-worded comments were posted on one WhatsApp-group the past week.

Water supply was another challenge as the raw water pumping units tripped at the Standerton Water Treatment Plant.

Taps splurged dirty water in some areas as well.

Supply to all wards within Standerton was affected and Lekwa had a team on site, attending to it.

More than one resident in the pay-hall at the municipality had to turn back when the power tripped early on Wednesday, June 8.

One local’s comment was that he needs to win the Lotto to install sun panels.

The system was off-line at one stage the previous day and when it finally was up and running, locals inside the hall waited patiently.

Residents in the B-sub, who used to be in the C-sub. are of the opinion that they are hardest hit by the electricity interruptions.

That sentiment is shared by the Lekwa Ratepayers Association.

One local suggested that Lekwa-shedding be introduced again, for the simple reason that it allows planning in advance.

Wilma Venter, councillor from the Freedom Front Plus, said on Friday, June 10 that the 55 notified maximum demand (NMD) is sometimes confused with the number of units bought at a vendor for a pre-paid meter.

“The overloading is due to the amount of power needed at one specific moment in town,” Venter added.

“The network can not handle the number of appliances such as geysers and heaters going full blast.”

She also mentioned the Eskom-debt which has put the municipality in this position.

Lekwa has not honoured the repayment agreement in the past and the power utility is taking no prisoners.