Hats off to Bay electricity workers

Dangerous fault at substation

WITH all that is threatening to collapse around the energy crisis, there is something in this city worth giving a huge bouquet to: the municipal electricity department – and specifically everyone connected to the Munelek fault report centre.

A week or so ago, driving along in the dark just before 8pm, I noticed a glowing point on some overhead power lines right in front of a substation serving the Kragga Kamma/Theescombe area. I contacted the call centre in Harrower Road to report this.

Shortly afterwards I received a call back from the operator wanting to check exactly where this was and what I had noticed. Not too long afterwards I received a call from the shift supervisor wanting to verify the information.

She then immediately dispatched a crew – who knew exactly where the location was, road names and all -- to check what was happening. About 15 minutes later, I received another call from the supervisor.

First it was to say that the crew were already at the place I had indicated and briefly to explain what the problem was. However, was I blown away when she told me the crew had asked her to contact and thank the caller, because the arcing that was causing the line to glow amounted to an emergency situation, especially in close proximity to the substation. Well, believe that!

I know someone who works at the call centre and have gained quite a bit of insight into the work that the call operators and crews are involved in 24/7, 365 days a year. I can only say that I have the greatest appreciation for what the crews face in keeping our electricity supply in working order as far as is humanly possible for them.