Residents brace for three-day power outage in Pretoria North as maintenance begins
Many suburbs in Pretoria North will be hit by power outages due to planned maintenance and efficiency tests at the Wolmer and K1 substations.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Media
Residents in at least 11 suburbs in Pretoria North will experience a three-day power outage starting today due to the City of Tshwane's planned maintenance and efficiency tests at the Wolmer and K1 substations.
This comes as the city’s Energy and Electricity Department's team of technicians embarks on planned audits and tests on the efficiency of both substations from June 17 to June 19.
This is nearly a month after an unknown group of attackers vandalised the Wolmer substation in Onderstepoort, plunging residents into darkness.
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo stated that the maintenance is necessary for safety reasons and to identify areas for improvement in electricity supply management.
He said the municipality will shut down the power supply to both affected substations in the interest of safety and lack of a backfeed line.
Mashigo stated that consumers should take note that these tests and audits will assist the municipality in identifying areas for improvement in order to enhance electricity supply management, especially during high-demand periods.
Power supply to Wolmer Substation will be interrupted on Tuesday and Wednesday for four hours, from 9am to 1pm, respectively.
The areas that will be affected include Wolmer, Ninapark, Theresapark, Eldorette, Clarina, Winternest, Hesteapark, Klerksoord, Heatherdale, parts of Dorandia, and the BVN 45 line.
Meanwhile, some of the customers that are supplied by the K1 Substation will have no power supply on Thursday, for four hours, from 9am to 1pm.
The areas that will be affected are Soshanguve Block VV, WW, XX, and the BVN line 176.
Mashigo apologised for any inconvenience that may arise during this interruption period and assured customers that every effort will be made to complete the work within the scheduled timeframe.
In a separate incident, the city reported on Tuesday that technicians have been dispatched to investigate the cause of a 132kV trip at the Wapadrand Substation, which affected various areas including Wapadrand, Equestria, Silver Lakes, Silverwoods Country Estate, Willow Acres, and surrounding suburbs.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za