4 August 2004

By Lebofsa Masha

MOGALE City Municipality has set aside some R10-million to upgrade the supply of electricity throughout the city in a range of projects to be completed by September next year.

Projects include replacing overhead wires in older areas like Wentworth Park and Krugersdorp North and South to cable meters, and the installation of a pre-paid meter system in Munsieville.

Mpoti Machaba, director for infrastructure management, responsible for electricity, was optimistic about the projects, and said the project will be complete at the end of September 2005.

"We have to upgrade the system because more and more people are now using electricity as part of their daily lives" he said.

Most parts of the municipality, such as Noordheuvel, Factoria, Kenmare and Silverfields, will have their electricity supply upgraded from 6,6kv to 11kv. This upgrade will cost Mogale City about R850 000.

Deputy director, infrastructure management for electricity, Frikkie Erasmus, said this exercise would improve the capacity and quality of electrical supply to their customers.

"The conversion will be in some residential areas, with most in industrial areas. The approach of the distribution will further make the accommodation of new development possible," he added.

Erasmus said a major project was to change the old type of roof entry connection to houses into a safer kind of cable. "A number of people - especially children - have been shocked due to the old roof entry method," he said.

Another project, which has been allocated some R450 000, will see existing meter installations in houses or on stands shifted to the street front to ensure easy access for meter readers.

In a separate R9,7-million project, awarded to the Consolidated Power Project, the municipality plans to build a new 33 000-volt substation in Pinehaven, Muldersdrift.