CP completes overhead line project in Eagle Canyon

City Power (CP) has completed electricity infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving supply reliability to residents and businesses in Eagle Canyon and its surrounds.

According to the CP general manager for public relations and communication, the project involved the construction of a 2.4km double overhead power line between the Christiaan de Wet Substation and the Eagle Canyon Golf Estate. The new line replaces ageing underground cables that have frequently failed and have been vulnerable to theft.

“Operators will begin the final technical process of identifying the underground cable, spiking it, testing it, and joining it to the newly installed overhead line. The line will then undergo final testing before supply is restored through the new infrastructure, which is expected early next week, provided all tests are successful,” CP’s spokesperson Isaac Mangena said in a statement.

The project cost R1.9m in labour and materials and forms part of CP’s broader programme to replace vulnerable copper cables with aluminium conductors in an effort to reduce theft and improve the resilience of the electricity network.

According to CP Capital Expenditure (Capex) co-ordinator Fumani Baloyi, the project presented several challenges during construction.

“This was not an easy project. We initially expected to complete the work within three weeks, but inclement weather delayed the process, and it ultimately took just over six weeks,” said Baloyi.

“The lines run across wetlands, which made planting poles difficult, and the dense bush and trees meant it was not safe to work at night. We had to adopt a different strategy to complete the work successfully,” he added.

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CP expressed appreciation to residents and businesses for their patience during construction and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the electricity network across Roodepoort.