City Power confusion left residents in the dark
A house-sitter received at least four reference numbers from City Power – all for the same issue.
“Why does it have to take several calls to get your matter resolved by the municipality?”
This was the question asked by Poortview house-sitter, Volker Welge, after he was left without lights for the entire weekend due to a power problem.
Adding to his distress, he was disgruntled by how the situation was handled as he had to call City Power a couple of times and received a different reference number each time he called, plus new information on the power restoration which, according to him, was misleading.
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Welge said the power was disrupted on Friday, 25 May, before 2pm. He thought it might just be a brief power outage until two hours went by, and then only did he report the matter to City Power. “I reported the matter at 4pm and was issued with the first reference number. When I enquired again later, I was told the overhead cables had been restored, but I pointed out to them that the area has no overhead cables and was given another reference number,” he went on.
Two nights went by without power, and on Sunday, Welge received an SMS stating that the reference had been closed as the power had been restored. Out of frustration, Welge said he called them again, notifying them that power had not been restored.
Welge added that it was then brought to his attention that the power cut was caused by a cable that was allegedly damaged by subcontractors digging trenches along Malcom Road.
After more calls to City Power and the local ward councillor, Leah Knott, the matter was finally resolved during the afternoon of Monday, 28 May.
City Power has been asked to comment on this incident.
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