The City of Cape Town has announced critical electricity infrastructure upgrades that will lead to planned power outages in selected areas later this month.
Why are the upgrades necessary?
In a statement, the City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department stated that the work involves critical maintenance and infrastructure improvements aimed at “preventing future disruptions and optimising electricity distribution.”
These upgrades form part of a broader initiative to maintain Cape Town’s electrical grid at international standards.
The planned work focuses on areas with ageing or heavily used infrastructure, which require modernisation to handle current and future demand.
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Which areas will be affected and when?
The electricity supply will be disrupted in Observatory, Salt River, and parts of Woodstock.
Work is scheduled to take place overnight on:
- Friday, 24 January 2025, from 20:00 to Saturday, 25 January 2025, at 08:00.
However, if weather conditions interfere, the upgrades will be rescheduled to:
- Friday, 7 February 2025, from 20:00 to Saturday, 8 February 2025, at 08:00.
The City has advised that restoration times could vary due to unforeseen circumstances or high electrical loads during reactivation.
How to prepare for the outage
Residents in the affected areas are encouraged to take the following precautions to minimise inconvenience during the outage:
- Switch off all appliances before the outage begins to prevent damage from power surges when electricity is restored.
- Keep backup lighting handy, such as torches or fully charged portable lights.
- Charge essential devices like phones and power banks ahead of time.
- Stock up on non-perishable food items and ensure you have sufficient water, as appliances like electric stoves and kettles will be unusable.
- Treat all electrical installations as live during the outage to avoid accidents or injuries.
