The City of Cape Town’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department has announced crucial infrastructure upgrades that will impact the electricity supply in Observatory, Salt River, and parts of Woodstock from Friday, 24 January 2025.
What, when, and how long?
The electricity disruption will occur overnight from 20:00 on Friday, 24 January, until 08:00 on Saturday, 25 January.
Should the planned work not be possible due to severe weather conditions, it will be postponed. The current alternative planned date, should this be the case, is Friday, 7 February, from 20:00 until 08:00 the following morning, as reported by capetownetc.
Residents within the affected areas – Observatory, Salt River and parts of Woodstock – will experience a total power outage during the scheduled work.
The City has advised that while the restoration of power is estimated to occur within the specified window, unforeseen issues or complex work may cause delays. Residents should therefore be ready for the disruption to last longer than expected.
What steps should affected residents take?
In preparation for the impending power outage, it is advisable that affected residents take proactive safety measures. All appliances and electronic devices should be switched off at the wall. This preventative measure aims to mitigate potential damage from power surges that often occur when electricity is back.
For extra safety measures, it is advisable to unplug sensitive electronics like computers and televisions.
It is important to note that during an outage, people should treat all electrical installations as live.
Additionally, it is advisable to avoid using candles as an alternative light source. To minimise fire hazards use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights instead.
Food safety is crucial during a power outage. Perishable foods like meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and eggs should be kept cold. If the power outage lasts longer than four hours, discard any perishable food that has reached room temperature. Use a cooler filled with ice or frozen gel packs to keep food cold. If possible, minimize opening the refrigerator and freezer doors during the outage to maintain cold temperatures.
For any queries, residents can call the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089.
To view the outage area map, visit: https://bit.ly/4dURYlY.
Do you unplug appliances when you know the electricity will be off?
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