- Ward
59 has seen a significant rise in winter-related power outages, with some
areas experiencing multiple disruptions. - Local
authorities are focusing on overgrown trees interfering with power lines
as a major cause and are prioritizing tree trimming in high-risk streets
to reduce outages ahead of winter. - The
City aims to cut power outages in the area by 50% by 2030.
Residents of Ward 59 have experienced an increasing number of winter-related power outages over the past two years, with many calling for urgent intervention to address the problem.
The worst-affected areas include Myrtle Road, Glade Close, Grove Road and College Road in Rondebosch, where some residents endured up to six separate outages during the winter months.
Other areas, including Alice Road, Eden Road, Carbrook Road, and Bishopscourt Road, faced at least three power cuts. Parts of Kenilworth, Upper Claremont, and Newlands also experienced severe disruptions.
The rising frequency of outages has led to frustration, particularly those who have had multiple extended power failures.
Data from Ward 59 shows a worrying increase in the number of outages. Between April and August last year, the ward recorded 702 power outages – an increase of 194 compared to the same period in 2023.
These outages affected 239 streets across Claremont, Kenilworth, Newlands, Rondebosch, and Rosebank, with some streets experiencing power failures multiple times.
Ward councillor Mikhail Manuel stated: “Winter provides an added complexity of lengthy waiting periods for power to be restored due to significant numbers of outages happening at once.”
He added “in this context, I believe most residents are willing to accept at least one 24-hour power outage over the five months of autumn and winter weather. However, experiencing three such outages over five months would be exceptionally frustrating and unacceptable.”
Analysis of the data shows that in 2023, 29,1% of affected streets had three or more outages. This figure reportedly rose sharply to 46,0% last year, highlighting a growing concern for residents and City officials alike.
In an effort to curb the increasing number of outages, local authorities have been exploring various solutions. One of the primary concerns has been the impact of overgrown trees interfering with power lines.
Since 2021, officials have encouraged residents to log service requests for tree trimming, aiming to reduce the risk of trees causing damage to electrical infrastructure during storms.
Manuel explained: “I used much of 2022 and 2023 to get residents to log service requests for tree trimming. This allowed me to use the existing system that the City officials use, to get the job done or to demonstrate that the system did not work adequately.”
While there were efforts to establish a dedicated tree-trimming team for the electricity depot servicing the area, officials found this approach too costly and inefficient. Instead, a revised strategy has been implemented, focusing on identifying and prioritising streets that have been most affected by outages over the past two years.
A total of 23 streets that experienced more than three separate outages in both 2023 and last year have been highlighted for proactive intervention.
City officials have committed to adapting the existing tree-trimming programme to focus on these high-risk areas ahead of this year’s winter season.
Additionally, requests have been made for increased budget allocation to expand pre-emptive tree-trimming efforts to next year.
Authorities have set an ambitious goal to reduce power outages in Ward 59 by 50% by 2030.
The next few months are expected to be crucial in planning and preparing for winter, with City officials urging residents to continue logging service requests to assist in identifying problem areas.
Manuel emphasised: “We must do everything possible to reduce the number of outages. The analysis of winter last year has further demonstrated the severity of our problem and helped to bolster the argument for prioritised resource allocation.”
While one or two power outages during extreme weather events may be inevitable, officials acknowledge that repeated disruptions within short time frames are unacceptable.
