Weather-related power outages in parts of George

Update

GEORGE NEWS - 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 the George area into six areas, each supervised by a Senior Superintendent.

Each Superintendent has a number of staff who can make up two or more teams 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.

Power has been restored / partially restored in the following areas

Portions of Victoria Bay (partially restored, excluding M. Lammers Antiques, Vodacom Tower, and Overdale B&B)
Chris April, Sauer, and Stuurman Streets power restored, Lavalia Power Restored 100%
Power restored in Zone 9, left with Silvertown and farms
Power restored Zone 5
Supply restored in Back Street and parts of Heather Street (at the back of Haydn Street) in Pacaltsdorp
Parts of Primrose, New Dawn Park
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.
Portions of Victoria Bay (partially restored, excluding M. Lammers Antiques, Vodacom Tower, and Overdale B&B)
Portions of Victoria Bay (partially restored, excluding M. Lammers Antiques, Vodacom Tower, and Overdale B&B)

Areas still without power

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

NMU George Campus is still off. The line there has suffered multiple breaks and is being completely rebuilt.
Heather Park remains without power due to broken poles (David Murray, Airway, Cypress, Protea, Willow, Pine, Cluster streets)
Turn off at Blue Whale remains off.
Blanco (Maitland, George Road, Montagu, Die Rus) is 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 this morning
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 this morning
Ballotsview, teams to continue attending to outages in surrounding areas
Hoekwil (vegetation and electrical teams will start this morning again)
Portions of Pine Dew
Elvis Blue
Nursery
Farmers’ Labourers’ Cottages
Strawberry Farm
Farmlands

Electrical contractors assist with repairs

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 and is not answered immediately, this does not mean calls are being ignored; the system operates on a call-waiting basis.