Alrode South businesses still in the dark
I can't begin to tell you (and I am sure you have already heard from numerous sources) how frustrating the situation is.
THE RECORD has published several letters from businesses in Alrode South, particularly Tarry Street, and after a brief period of calm, has been inundated with more complaints.
Below are some excerpts from complaint letters sent by business owners in Alrode South:
“I have tried to log a report to the call centre on 086 054 3000 and energy department on 011 999 2525 for the today’s fuse that went down again( 2016/11/23 09:20) but the number just keeps on ringing and, as soon as I choose options the line just goes dead.
”When Ekurhuleni’s technician came out for yesterday’s call-out, he informed me that he did not have the right size fuse with him and that he would, in the meantime, replace the blown fuse with a smaller fuse.
”I was also to inform his supervisor about this, so that she could arrange for the correct fuse.
”I have done this, and I have phoned her again this morning, after I could not get hold of anybody on the above numbers to arrange to replace the blown fuse with the correct fuse, so that our business can carry on.
”In the meantime, another team also came past yesterday, to cut open our electricity boxes, to confirm that the correct fuses are in place and, so far, that is all that has been done about the problem that I am aware of.”
Ryno Louw
“I am contacting you from a business in Alrode South (Frankensteel). We are in the same street as M&P Bodies, who were the focus of your article dated October 14, 2016.
After your article was run, there were no electrical supply problems for about three weeks, but, since the start of November, the problems have resurfaced.
On average, I would say we are losing about 20 per cent of production (about eight hours per week). I can’t begin to tell you (and I am sure you have already heard from numerous sources) how frustrating the situation is.
It seems to be a localised problem, as only our street seems to have the outages, our neighbours in other streets do not have the electrical supply problems. As has been stated in the article you ran, when we phone EMM, the call centre agents cannot give us any useful information with regards to the problem, and merely say: ‘The problem will be solved in four-24 hours.’ In an informal conversation my business partner had with an EMM electrician who services the area, he stated that the supply cables are too small and the EMM are aware of the problem but have chosen to ignore it. Thank you for your work in reporting this issue and taking the time to read this comment. Kind regards,”
Darold Frankenber
“We once again find ourselves without electricity, but this does not seem to be of any concern to the council at all, and we will, no doubt, be receiving our bill shortly, which will, without doubt, be higher than the previous month. We will once again be forced to pay premium rates for way below standard services.
“My previous e-mail of this morning has hardly hit your desk and we are once again without power. This is simply unacceptable and we cannot continue in this manner; how is the council going to reimburse us for our losses and how are we suppose to meet our financial commitments – the first being employees’ wages?
“We need this rectified with immediate effect, we cannot wait another day for the technicians to come out to change a fuse, only to find ourselves in the same situation later today or tomorrow. Please send out people with the necessary skills to solve the problem and not simply to change the fuse.
If the council does not have people with the necessary skills, or they are unavailable, or they lack the will to carry out the much needed repairs, I would ask that you contract a private company to carry out the repairs as a matter of urgency.
Words simply cannot express just how critical this situation is to our business, we respectfully request that you put your full weight behind this problem to prevent the re occurrence.”
Gerhard Louw
Comment:
The RECORD received feedback that the chief area engineer, Alberton/Thokoza CCA: Energy, visited Tarry Street on Thursday, November 24 and found that one phase was down yet again.
They inspected the mini sub and called for an operations officer to assist with switching. Cables were also disconnected and the terminations were moved to another section on the bus-bars, cable ends were taped up, a new lug was fitted on one of the tails and they ensured that the connections were tight and installed brand new fuses on all three phases.
Customer advisors from the department also checked every consumer fed from that LV supply to ensure that the correct overcurrent protection has been installed and they will continue to monitor the network.
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