CITY OF CAPE TOWN 18 FEBRUARY 2019 MEDIA RELEASE
Risk of nuisance tripping from load-shedding can be reduced
The City of Cape Town encourages residents to reduce the risk of nuisance tripping, which happens when the power does not come back on immediately after the occurrence of load-shedding, by switching off all appliances which use electricity before load-shedding is scheduled to take place. Read more below:
When power is restored after load-shedding, nuisance tripping sometimes occurs. This is when the power is restored to an area and fails to come back on in some parts. The power outage often goes unreported because residents assume that it is due to load-shedding.
Residents are encouraged to reduce the risk and occurrence of nuisance tripping by switching off appliances, including geysers, air conditioners and pool pumps prior to load-shedding and leaving one light on to indicate the return of the supply.
General faults can also sometimes be confused with load-shedding.
‘City teams always try their best to respond as soon as possible and within available capacity when a call is logged that an outage is carrying on for longer than the specific timeframe that has been indicated by Eskom for load-shedding.
‘Sometimes it may take longer to restore electricity in certain areas of the metro as additional security measures must be taken in an area that has been affected by nuisance tripping. The City continues to do its best to notify its customers of potential load-shedding as soon as Eskom notifies the City.
‘We are also continuing our endeavours to become less reliant on Eskom for electricity supply and gain greater control as a municipality over the ability to generate and distribute electricity,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Councillor Phindile Maxiti.
If customers experience an outage at an unscheduled time, or the electricity supply remains off for longer than the period specified in the schedule, please SMS the details to the City’s Technical Operations Centre on 31220.
Please continue to follow the City of Cape Town on Facebook and Twitter for Eskom load-shedding alerts. City-supplied customers will be directed to the City’s website on www.capetown.gov.za for updates. Eskom customers should visit www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za
As always, residents and businesses are encouraged to visit the City’s electricity saving page www.savingelectricity.org.za for a wealth of useful information to help reduce dependence on electricity and to save money.
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Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Councillor Phindile Maxiti, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Cell: 083 726 9414, Email: Phindile.Maxiti@capetown.gov.za (please always copy media@capetown.gov.za)