The City of Cape Town’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department has notified residents of planned maintenance that will affect parts of Observatory, Salt River, and Woodstock. This work is scheduled for either Friday, 4 October, or, if weather conditions do not allow, Friday, 11 October. The maintenance will begin at 20:00 and is expected to be completed by 8:00 the next morning.
Power Restoration May Face Delays Due to Complexity
Although the City has provided an estimated duration for the outage, they caution that the power may not be restored within the set timeframe. Given the complexity of the work, it’s possible that electricity could be restored later than planned. The Electricity Generation and Distribution Department explained:
“Our teams will work as quickly as possible to complete the work within the communicated time, but unforeseen delays can happen due to the complexity of the infrastructure.”
Residents are encouraged to stay informed by following the City’s official channels, including social media, for any updates. If power isn’t restored within the expected time, residents should contact the City’s Call Centre before filing any service requests related to the maintenance.
Important Safety Precautions for Residents
During the outage, residents are urged to turn off all electrical appliances to avoid any potential damage when the power is restored. The City warned:
“The electricity supply could be restored at any time, and customers must treat all electrical installations as live for the full duration of the interruption.”
This precaution helps reduce the risk of damage caused by power surges, which can happen when electricity is reconnected.
Maintenance Dependent on Weather Conditions
If adverse weather prevents the scheduled maintenance from taking place on 4 October, the work will be postponed to 11 October, with the same timing of 20:00 to 8:00. The City has apologised for any inconvenience and expressed appreciation for residents’ patience as efforts continue to improve the electrical infrastructure in these areas.