Unlike many areas that were affected by load shedding, Ward 9 councillor Gordon Mackay explained that the reason for the long power outage was due to a faulty substation.
“I was only notified on day two of the power cut and I have been informed that a substation on Hamilton Road was disturbed by the heavy rains during the week,” he explained.
The heavy rains continued relentlessly for two weeks.
“The substation needs a complete infrastructure upgrade and although no budget is available to do this now, the matter is on City Power’s list of priorities.”
City Power communications manager Sol Masolo said Craighall experienced power outages and not load shedding; he said a team was dispatched to investigate the matter. The power cuts caused major traffic jams in the area as traffic lights were also affected. On 5 March, power utility Eskom announced that power cuts were eminent after declaring an emergency. Seven days of heavy rain had left coal stocks wet, said spokesperson Andrew Etzinger. “We have asked our large industrial customers to reduce their consumption by 10 percent, but it appears this will not be enough,” Etzinger told SAPA at the time. The power utility announced on 6 March that rotational load shedding had been put into effect.
However, Mackay said that as long as the power station is not upgraded, power cuts may continue.
