Ward councillors are responsible for assisting with power outages but can only do so much.
DA Shadow MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services and Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk stated that trip switches are not the only causes for outages but stolen materials, fire, explosions, which take significantly longer to trace and repair, are too. Like every ward councillor, Van Dyk faces resident’s frustrations and anger every time there is an unplanned power interruption. She shared details of how she handles such and information the public needs to know about ward councillors and power outages.
“The first thing that goes through my mind when there’s an outage is to get focused, find out what the issue is, keep residents calm and informed and deal with the job at hand.” Van Dyk explained that ward councillors are responsible for assisting with power outages but also acknowledged that there are challenges and limitations that make it difficult to do so. The first thing she will do when faced with an outage is to start checking the ward’s various communication channels, and request for residents to log the fault and post their address with the reference number.
These are shared with the relevant City Power depot and then awaits feedback. She added, “For some issues that are broad and volatile like that of the Roosevelt Park substation, I will often go there and engage residents. I find that this course of action allows me to explain the nuances of the outages and the infrastructure failures while allowing technicians to not be interrupted.” In all instances, she will share all information she has received with her ward or affected areas through her social media profiles.
Van Dyk stated that most residents are merely looking to stay informed and updated with the outage. “I find that as long as I communicate regularly, for me this is normally every hour, that residents generally remain supportive and patient. Even when there is no update, I will still communicate that so that residents appreciate that the matter is still be handled.”
She added that City Power technicians do give out regular and relevant information nine times out of 10 but struggled whenever faced with increasing outages. “There are days that the number of outages are overwhelming with councillors all escalating for their various areas, which is around 120 000 homes under two depots in Region B. When this happens the depot focuses on getting through the outages and offering feedback when the overload allows.”
Van Dyk encouraged residents to keep reporting outages by logging into the City Power website where they will be given a reference number. She added, “Residents sadly, at this stage should rather rely on councillors for their info over Twitter as the Twitter account only advises of tripped subs but they are certainly not aware of the ground movements of technicians and contractors.”
If outages have not been resolved within the six-hour turnaround time, residents can forward their reference numbers to their ward councillor for escalation. Turnaround times for outages that affect a whole area or multiple suburbs will need more time to investigate and resolve.
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