Question NW2209 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
30 October 2017 - NW2209
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
How many power outages have the suburbs of (a) Marlands and (b) Sunnyridge in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality experienced (i) in the (aa) 2015 and (bb) 2016 and (ii) in the period 1 January to 31 July 2017; (2) What (a) were the reasons for the power outages in each case, (b) was the duration of the outage and (c) time of day did the outages take place; (3) By what date (i) will the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality upgrade the infrastructure in the area to prevent further outages and (ii) will work commence on the upgrade, (b) what is the projected cost of the upgrade and (c) what amount has been budgeted for the upgrade?
Reply:
The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs provided the response in this regard:
|
# |
AREAS AFFECTED |
NUMBER OF POWER OUTAGES PER FINANCIAL YEAR |
|
|
(aa) 2015-2016 |
(bb) 2016-2017 |
||
|
a |
Marlands |
4 |
21 |
|
2 |
Sunnyridge |
19 |
20 |
|
3 |
Both Areas Affected at the same time (upstream substation trip) |
18 |
9 |
Summary for 2015/2016
Marlands areas affected by power outages 22 times (4+18=22)
Sunnyridge areas affected by power outages 37 times (19+18=37)
Summary for 2016/2017
Marlands areas affected by power outages 30 times (21+9=30)
Sunnyridge areas affected by power outages 29 times (20+9=29)
Therefore, Marlands areas were affected 52 times in 24 months while Sunnyridge areas were affected 66 times in the same period. It must however be noted that not all customers were always affected at the same time. The customers were only affected as-and-when the circuit feeding them faulted which differed in frequency.
2. (a)
|
# |
Financial Year |
CAUSE OF POWER OUTAGES |
||||
|
Equipment Failure |
Operational Causes |
3rd Party Cause |
Eskom |
TOTAL |
||
|
1 |
2015/2016 |
22 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
41 |
|
2 |
2016/2017 |
33 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
50 |
|
3 |
TOTAL |
55 |
20 |
14 |
2 |
91 |
- Equipment Failure refer to mainly medium voltage cable faults and switchgear failure
- Operational Causes refer to overload caused by limited number of available cables during repairs and failure of protection equipment.
- 3rd Party Causes refer to cable theft and damages by contractors
- Eskom refer to power outages imposed by Eskom network.
(b) Average hours for power restorations = 6 hours. The shortest power outage took around 0.25 hours and the longest around 41.5 hours.
(c) The power outages randomly happens across all days and hours.
(3) (a)
(i) The main substation (Germiston North Intake Substation) supplying the areas is being upgraded at the moment. The project started in January 2017 and is expected to run until the end of 2018. The substation is being completely upgraded with new transformers and switchgear. In addition to the upgrading of the main substation, the Municipality has identified ageing and frequently failing equipment (mainly medium voltage underground cables) to be refurbished this financial year. Tenders for underground cables (supply and install) are in place. Material already ordered in July 2017 and projects expected to run from October 2017 to June 2018.
(ii) Upgrading of main substation started in January 2017 and is expected to run until the end of 2018. Refurbishment of ageing and frequently failing medium voltage underground cables expected to run from October 2017 to June 2018.
(b) The upgrading of the main substation (Germiston North Intake Substation) is projected at R120 million. The refurbishment of ageing and frequently failing equipment (medium voltage underground cables) for the area is projected at R25 million for the 2017/2018 financial year.
(c) The upgrading of the main substation (Germiston North Intake Substation) is budgeted at R120 million. The refurbishment of ageing and frequently failing equipment (medium voltage underground cables) for the area is budgeted at R25 million for the 2017/2018 financial year.