UPDATE: City of Ekurhuleni reports back on recent power outages

The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) energy department has reported numerous reasons for outages which affected many parts of Alberton.

An energy department report stated the occurrence of outages in Alberton increased intensely since the beginning of June 2020.

According to the City’s statement, the energy department received and attended to 1 709 electrical complaints logged with the City’s call centre from June 1 to 17. It indicated that reasons causing outages varied for each area from damaged wires and overloads to illegal connections.

Alberton North

It stated reasons for various outages range from medium-volt cable fault to numerous damaged cables in the area. It also reported that fibre optic contractors damaged medium voltage of 6.6 kilovolt cables and low-voltage distribution cables.

The City stated that not all faults can be linked directly to actions of the fibre contractors.
It indicated that they were dealing with cable faults, where cables failed in a spot where no recent excavation was done and stated that one of their biggest challenges in the area is that some of its consumer substations are located inside premises.

With most being built that way years ago, and premises being locked and secured, access to some of the switching points was reported to being difficult to obtain. This was said to increase the duration of outages.

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Alrode

Recent cable faults and overhead line faults in Diens Street were reported to having affected consumers in the area.
Again, some properties were also reported to being difficult to access.

A medium-voltage cable was rerouted and supply restored on June 6.

The CoE stated the Flamink Street substation had tripped on overload following a fault in an industrial customer’s medium-voltage installation.

Meyersdal

Supply interruption on June 9 was said to be a result of a 33 kilovolts feeder cable failure. The interruptions on June 16 and 17 were reportedly as a result of a trip at the Meyersdal primary substation on the transformer 6.6 kilovolts incomer circuit breaker.

Some of the supply was reported to being restored, but the supply to the secondary substations in Douglas Harris Drive and Lindeque Road could not be fully restored.

This was said to be due to excessive high loads that could potentially lead to the trip of the primary substation again.
According to the statement, the recent cold spell also contributed significantly to the high demand for electricity.

Randhart, Alberante, New Redruth and surrounding areas

The fibre installation contractors were reported to having damaged cables which affected the area. Fuse theft is on the rise again at some mini-substations and bulk metering enclosures, which is also said to be a contributing factor.

Mayberry Park

The City stated a cable was damaged by a third party contractor on June 13.

Verwoerd Park, Florentia

It was said to be cable faults, cable damage and overloading on some circuits between Keurboom Avenue, Kritzinger Road, Bloutulp Road and Glen Drive.

Brackenhurst, Brackendowns

It reported that a mini-substation was damaged in Jakkals Street in Brackenhurst, which was reportedly replaced. Area outage was said to have occurred on June 12 when a transformer in Eiger Street tripped due to a fault at consumer installation in Alrode.

Thokoza and surrounding areas

Overload trips and illegal connections were said to be a contributing factor. It reported that one of their power transformers are out of service following a fire that damaged auxiliary transformer equipment.