Update: Power expected to return in phases
Residents are reminded to turn off all non-essential electrical appliances such as lights, geysers, and pool pumps.
Ratepayers who have been without power for about seven days can expect restoration of power this evening.
Several Pretoria east suburbs serviced by Mooikloof substation will have their power restored in phases, however it is unclear which areas will receive power first.
A fire ravaged the Mooikloof substation on April 17, plunging thousands of Pretoria east ratepayers into darkness for more than six days.
According to the Tshwane MMC for utilities Themba Fosi, the outage affected areas including Garsfontein, several areas east of Solomon Mahlangu Drive, Moreleta Park including the Pretoria East Hospital, Woodlands Lifestyle Estate, Mooikloof Estate, Mooikloof Ridge, The Wilds Estate, and surrounding farms.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the energy and electricity team was working around the clock to ensure they expedited all work on-site.
“We envisage power to be restored at the latest from Wednesday on a phased approach.”
Local ward councillor Malcolm de Klerk said the first transformer is expected to be switched on at 22:00 to start heating the oil.
“We will allow transformers to soak before we commence switching, which will be in phases,” he said.
De Klerk said repair work was being concluded at Transformer R and the team will energise it soon.
He said Transformer C indicated negative tests, however plans were to energise it and allow it to transmit power to a quarter of its maximum capacity.
He said all work to ensure the power supply from the two transformers was completed, along with all work on panels installation.
“The teams are busy with testing and fixing faults as they find them.”
De Klerk said all feeder cables were connected to the board.
Residents are also reminded to turn off all non-essential electrical appliances such as lights, geysers and pool pumps.
Power outages can damage your appliances. When the power comes back on in your area, it may do so with a transitory surge.
Here are tips to prevent damage after a long period of power outage:
– Turn off all the electrical appliances you were using at the wall socket.
– Remove the plug from the wall socket for all your electronically controlled appliances such as Wi-Fi routers, cellphone chargers, computers, TV sets, etc.
– Make sure you have left one light switch on so that you can see when the electricity comes back on.
– Try and turn all the other light switches off. When the electricity comes back on it may not be beneficial to wake up in the middle of the night with lights glaring.
Watch Update from Tuesday:
ALSO READ: Mooikloof substation to receive attention after ratepayers threaten legal action
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