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UPDATE 20: WEATHER-RELATED POWER OUTAGES IN PARTS OF GEORGE

Following the strong winds experienced earlier this week, municipal electrical teams initially focused on restoring high-voltage and medium-voltage power lines to ensure that critical infrastructure, including water treatment works, wastewater treatment works, and sanitation systems, remained operational. Teams also assisted with Eskom-related outages where possible.

The Electrical Engineering Services Directorate has divided George area into six areas each supervised by a Senior Superintendent. Each Superintendent has a number of staff which can make up two or more teams to

to address multiple low-voltage outages across various affected areas in George.

Teams have been restoring substations and implementing quick repairs to reinstate the electricity supply. In several areas, however, poles were damaged, trees fell onto power lines, and infrastructure sustained significant storm damage. In these instances, restoration takes longer, and power lines are isolated for safety reasons. Members of the public are urged to always treat all power lines as live.

THE FOLLOWING PROCESS IS FOLLOWED WHERE TREES HAVE FALLEN ON POWER LINES:

  • The line is isolated
  • The tree is cut and removed
  • Damaged poles are replaced
  • Lines are restrung and secured to poles
  • The line is re-energised

Please note that the re-energising process can take several hours.

George Municipality is aware of several hundred low-voltage complaints affecting individual houses and streets. These are being attended to systematically by the various teams.

Residents who have reported outages and received reference numbers can be assured that their complaints are receiving attention. At this stage, no estimated times of restoration (ETRs) can be provided.

WILDERNESS HEIGHTS RESTORED

Steyn line and 8 transformers in Wilderness Heights were restored (From Heights Road to Wilderness Heights. Only one customer down in Remskoen Ave)

POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED / PARTIALLY RESTORED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

  • Oubaai en Le Grand Estate restored
  • Blanco (Du Plessis Street, Golden Valley Streets and Blanco MVR) restored.
  • Rosemoor (Meester, Twight and Van Till Streets) restored.
  • Zone 8, Thembalethu (restored)
  • Portions of Victoria Bay (partially restored, excluding M. Lammers Antiques, Vodacom Tower and Overdale B&B)
  • Power is restored in the Glenwood area, NMU George Campus is still off. The line there suffered multiple breaks and is being rebuilt completely.
  • Dutoit line Geelhoutboom restored.
  • Modderrivier line: Contractor did survey, will inform later when more of their resources are available
  • Herold’s Bay line (3 customers). The terrain is very wet farmland with down slopes for crane trucks to enter. Once more resources are available, they will start.
  • Gelderbloem, Sauer, and Chris, April Street repairs progressing well, vegetation cleared in Glenwood Ave
  • Shallot Street restored
  • Denneoord 100% restored
  • Witpeer Street, Heatherlands (In progress)
  • Outstanding Myrtle Street, Golden Valley (In progress)
  • Power restored to Victoria Bay Blackwood Area
  • Victoria Bay Heights restored
  • Rademachers (restored)
  • Pine Dew: The construction team will start tomorrow morning.  ETR 20:00 tomorrow.
  • Hoekwil – Vegetation Contractor on site.
  • Wilderness, pole excavation started on the main line.?
  • Le Grand Line: restored
  • Hansmoeskraal (in Progress)

AREAS STILL WITHOUT POWER:

The following customers and areas remain without electricity due to broken poles, damaged overhead feeder lines, and difficult terrain:

  • La Vallia restoration still in progress
  • Heather Park remains without power due to broken poles (David Murry, Airway, Cypress, Protea, Willow, Pine, Cluster streets)
  • Turn off at Blue Whale remains off.
  • Blanco (Maitland, George Road, Montagu, Die Rus) are still without power (area partially restored)
  • Pacaltsdorp (Back Street, Heather Road)
  • New Dawn Park (Aaron Street)
  • Rosemoor (MS Miller Street)
  • George CBD (Newton Street)
  • Glenwood Avenue remains without power due to broken poles and damaged lines – Contractor will start repairs on Friday, 15 May
  • Qawa Substation in Thembalethu remains offline due to overloading problems. Teams will continue with storm damage repairs this morning
  • Bo Dorp (Pollie Gerber Street) (contractor will start with repairs on Friday 15 May in the morning
  • Ballotsview, teams regrouped this morning to continue attending to outages in surrounding areas
  • Portions of Victoria Bay (partially restored, excluding M. Lammers Antiques, Vodacom Tower and Overdale B&B)
  • Pollie Gerber – Contractor will start with repairs on Friday, 25 May
  • Hoekwil (vegetation and electrical teams will start tomorrow morning at 07:30 again)
  • Portions of Pine Dew
  • Elvis Blue
  • Nursery
  • Farmers’ Labourers’ Cottages
  • Strawberry Farm
  • Farmlands
  • Woodlands / Du Toit line

PLEASE NOTE:

Service providers (local contractors) are currently assisting various municipalities across the Garden Route with storm-related electricity repairs. This may impact the progress of repair and electrification work within the George municipal area.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Telephone lines are currently experiencing high call volumes. If the phone rings without being answered immediately, this does not mean calls are being ignored; the system operates on a call-waiting basis. Please also note that calls may occasionally drop due to network congestion, which is a broader issue currently affecting George.

Members of the public are encouraged to report power outages or live cables via the following channels:

  • Email: gmun@george.gov.za ( a reference number will be provided)
  • After-hours and emergencies: 044 801 6300
  • Office Switchboard: 044 801 9222 / 044 803 9222 (07:45 – 16:30)
  • Customer Care: 044 801 9202 / 9258
  • My Smart City APP

 

Photos:

The Electrical Engineering Directorate and contractors working into the night in Thembalethu.

Teams working in La Vallia, George on power outages.

George Electrical teams working iwell into the evening in Primrose Street, New Dawn Park.