City Power announced that they are currently battling to clear a huge backlog with regard to repairs in most of the City of Johannesburg areas. The backlog was caused by the excessive rain and load-shedding.
Chamber panels blowing up, mini-sub trips, and other medium-voltage (MV) faults were reported in record-breaking numbers while restoration from Stage 6 load-shedding was conducted on Monday evening and Tuesday morning (9 and 10 December). The Hursthill City Power depot received a record number of more than 1 000 calls in the space of four hours, according to Isaac Mangena, City Power spokesperson.
The City Power network takes a lot of strain during load-shedding due to the massive load shifting, and surges from power being cut and restored. Residents turning on all their appliances during restorations does not help the situation. The strain on the network has also contributed severely to the backlog in rectifying faults.
As of 11 December, open calls to the various City Power depots were at the following numbers:
• Alexandra – 388
• Hursthill – 1 210
• Lenasia – 322
• Midrand – 95
• Randburg – 1 198
• Reuven – 377
• Roodepoort – 288
• Siemert – 368
Roodepoort is at the second-lowest number of faults currently. Mangena ascribed it to the fact that the City Power team in Roodepoort has been working extremely hard, even during the rain, to ensure repairs and restorations are completed, as well as to minimise the impact of load-shedding. Even though the number of logged calls is low in comparison, Mangena said that teams were still in Roodepoort attending to outstanding calls.
The high call volumes and the aftermath of the heavy rains meant that restorations have been taking longer than usual, hence the backlog. The electricity entity reportedly has set itself a four-hour restoration standard, but the backlog is preventing them from meeting this standard.
Safety concerns have also delayed their restorations and repairs. During the rains, City Power needs to show extreme caution while doing any repairs because of the dangers. Mangena said that, for safety reasons, they have been unable to have operators work on the faulty system during load-shedding because power could be restored at any time.
City Power is appealing to residents to be patient as they attempt to deal with the backlog. The entity said its technicians are working hard to resolve all problems, and that more teams have been sent to the affected areas to ensure repairs and restorations are completed as soon as possible.
