A SUBSTATION fire has plunged parts of Soweto into darkness.
It was revealed that Lunar Substation caught alight on Saturday evening, 17 February and affected areas include Lenasia South, Migson Manor, Finetown and Mountain View, while supply has subsequently been restored to customers in Ennerdale.
City Power spokesman, Isaac Mangena said on Sunday, 18 February most of the substation's equipment has been damaged.
“The fire brigade has arrived at Lunar Substation and is actively engaged in extinguishing the fire.
"Operators have been made aware of a suspected explosion at Lunar Substation affecting Lenasia South ext 1, 4, Lawley, Ennerdale and surrounds. A team will be dispatched to investigate. We apologise for the inconvenience caused," he said.
^ZD pic.twitter.com/yqz3AyRLbM
— @CityPowerJhb (@CityPowerJhb) February 18, 2024
Meanwhile, a businessman from Lenasia was arrested during City Power Lenasia Service Delivery Centre’s (SDC) cut off on Wednesday, 15 February and charged with theft and tampering with electricity infrastructure.
According to Mangena, the businessman was found to have a 11KV mini-substation on his premises which disappeared from City Power premises in Booysens in 2014.
“The utility’s records show that at the time, four mini-substations were procured, however, one disappeared without a trace. The local energy supplier team found the missing mini-substation on the businessman’s premises after a request by a new business nearby to be connected to the grid through the same equipment.
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“The cost of a similar mini-substation is estimated at R400 000 while the 1km-long cable also found on his premises is estimated to cost R900 000,” he said.
Mangena said the electricity infrastructure is not registered on City Power's system and the utility disconnected and repossessed the mini-substation.
During the operation, Mangena said a business in arrears of R2,7 million, was disconnected along with a block of flats in Ennerdale with a debt of R1,5 million and another block in Lenasia Extension 13 that was illegally connected.
He said he was concerned about the ongoing illegal meters, tampering, bypassing of meters, and illegal connections.
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