Knysna residents face a day with no electricity due to maintenance

According to the Knysna Municipality, emergency repairs are underway at the Main Intake substation to mitigate the risks associated with continuous load shedding.

As a result, there is an interruption in the electricity supply until 16:30. This is outside of normal load shedding hours, where stage 6 will resume at 20h00, meaning Knysna will be without power for at least 14 and half hours on Thursday.

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The following areas are impacted by the interruption:
Bongani
Concordia
Joodsekamp
Qolweni
White Location
Knysna CBD
A section of Paradise
Knysna Heights
Thesen Island
Leisure Isle
Lower Industrial
Lower Old Place
Rexford
Hunters Home
Pezula
Sparrebosch
Fernwood
Vigilance Drive

Maintenance work is set to continue on Friday, this time on the Eastford Substation, and will affect the Simola, Welbedacht, Eastford, The Brentons and Belividere areas.

To add to the power woes, residents have also reported that fibre has gone down in many areas.

WATER SECURITY UNDER THREAT

To ensure the smooth functioning of essential services, the municipality has assured residents that contingency measures will be implemented to increase water production and maintain maximum levels in the reservoirs.

Despite heavy rainfall in the Garden Route in recent weeks, with continuous Stage 6 loadshedding, water security in the area is under threat.

“Water trucks will be on standby in case the reservoirs run out of water,” Knysna Municipality’s statement read.

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“Additionally, teams will be dispatched to monitor sewer pump stations and manholes to prevent any spillages. During this period, please exercise caution and consider all electrical equipment and supply points as live, as the power supply may be restored earlier than anticipated.”

Knysna has been on level 3 water restrictions for some time and continual power cuts are compounding matters. The reason being, power is required to pump water from low-level sources, such as rivers, to consumers who are situated higher up.

During load shedding or when the electricity trips, pumping to reservoirs on that particular grid stops, affecting supply.

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There are also, at times, damages to water infrastructure.

Damage to the pump and even an entire pump station could occur due to an electrical surge or a hydraulic surge – when a column of water returns to the pump at a high velocity. The costs associated with this damage can sometimes run into the tens of thousands.

POWER IN THE KNYSNA BUDGET

Rather timmeously, Knysna’s Council approved its 2023/2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework Budget during an ordinary Council meeting held on Wednesday 31 May. The total capital expenditure budget amounts to R110.7 million for the 2023/2024 fiscal year, which included a 15.1% tariff increase for electricity.

“We know that revenue must be generated sustainably if we are to continue fulfilling our mandate of basic service delivery,” said Knysna Executive Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa.

“Rates and tariffs remain an important income streame for the municipality. And, while it is not our intention to add pressure to our ratepayers, reasonable increases will be implemented in the new financial year.”

This article was originally published by NICK PAWSON.