MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The Makhado Municipality this week reacted to media reports that the region will be hit by a total interruption in electricity supply for a period of two whole days.

A recent radio report warning residents of the impending two day interruption in power supply on June 25 and 26 caused uproar amongst residents. Council was, however, quick to react, stating that although power supply might be disrupted, a two day total black-out is not a given fact. It is not sure who supplied the information to the radio station.

According to the municipality, Eskom is constructing an additional transmission line from Matimba (Ellisras) to Witkop (Polokwane), with the final inter-connection of lines scheduled for the said two dates. This additional line will provide a stable backbone to the northern network in future and enhance the quality and continuity of supply in the province.

The inter-connection of lines will, however, affect the whole of the Limpopo Province and supply will be either switched off from time to time or at least be restricted to a very limited power supply. In this regard, the municipality urged residents and businesses to:

* Utilize additional external power sources such as generators or other energy sources;

* Conduct no major business which relies mainly on electricity, such as industrial, sawmills, processing plants and bakeries;

* Reserve restricted power supply which becomes available for essential services only, such as amongst others hospitals, old age homes, water supply system, sewer works system, cold storage, dairies, fuel and other chemical industries and telecoms;

* Switch off all water heaters as applicable for domestic use;

* Suspend all irrigation and other farming activities, excluding domestic use; and

* Work in the loss in production, where applicable, before the said period.

All consumers must, however, note that should they not comply with this appeal, the lines will automatically trip out and no power supply will indeed be available for the said two days.

“The municipality can in no instance accept liability for any losses suffered due to such a scenario,” a Council statement reads. It continues to state that no guarantee can be given that the electricity supply will be interrupted during the entire specified time. The electricity supply to certain parts may be restored earlier than the specified time. Consumers are therefore warned that Council’s electrical lines must be considered live during the entire period.