City Power sheds light on eletricity situation

Ward councillors, residents and members of City Power came together for a community meeting about the state of Northcliff and surrounding areas’ electricity.

The meeting was to give feedback on what has been done with the R31 million that was allocated to refurbish the Roosevelt Park substation.

According to City Power’s engineering services acting director, Dickie Govender, R31 million is not enough to completely refurbish the substation.

He added that it is more than just equipment that needed to be replaced to remedy the situation, as network upgrades need to be done, such as the upgrading of lines.

Because many aspects need to be replaced, refurbished and upgraded, the project will carry over into the 2018/2019 financial year.

City Power has since applied for the next financial year’s budget regarding the project to be increased to R72 million.

This is still in the application stage and has not yet been approved, however, Govender explained that they will know before the start of the next financial year, which is in June.

He explained that another meeting will be held with residents and stakeholders to give feedback about what work has been done using the R31 million, and whether or not the R72 million has been approved.

City Power explained that the substation and network itself have given in, not because of neglect but rather because of its age.

While Govender said the project will carry over to the next financial year, much work will still be done this financial year.

Aged cabling still to be replaced during the 2017/2018 financial year:

• Northcliff/Fairland distributor (R2,7 million)
• Northcliff North distributor (R520 000)
• Northcliff/Fairland station distributor (R2,5 million)
• Roosevelt/Berario distributor (R2,1 million)

The first two are estimated to be replaced by 30 April this year, and the last two by 31 May this year.

Proposed capital projects for 2018/2019:

• Upgrade and refurbish the Roosevelt substation (R72 million)
• Refurbish the 88Kv transmission line – Delta substation to Roosevelt substation (R5 million).

City Power said while work has been ongoing at the Roosevelt substation, as well as other places in the network, they experience tremendous challenges due to working on a live network.

Officials explained that it makes work more dangerous and slower as they need to fix equipment while trying to keep the lights on.

They said they work with people’s lives and will, naturally, prioritise them when it comes to repairs.

What the meeting ultimately means for residents before the start of the next financial year, is that their pavements will be dug up in the weeks to come to lay down new cables.

Ward 98 councillor, Beverley Weweje, said she was assured that the new cables will mean fewer power outages.

Details: Weweje can be contacted for the list of streets that will be affected by the digging, on 082 336 8066.

ALSO READ: The dark side of Roosevelt Park substation’s upgrades