Lerato Mbhiza
The unnamed Lenasia businessman was taken into custody during a City Power cut-off operation and is facing charges of theft and tampering with electricity infrastructure after he was found with a substation that had disappeared from the system 10 years ago.
The substation was illegally connected to the network via a kilometre-long electricity cable also suspected to have been stolen from the power utility.
The substation was repossessed and transported b to City Power headquarters.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the 11KV mini substation disappeared from City Power’s 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 at the businessman’s premises after a request by a new business nearby to be connected to the grid through the same equipment.
“The cost of a similar mini-substation is estimated at R400,000 while the 1km-long cable also found in his premises is estimated to cost R900,000. The electricity infrastructure is not registered on the City Power’s system although the connection was made on its network,” Mangena explained.
At the same time, Mangena said the Lenasia Service Delivery Centre is owed R1.4 billion by businesses in the area.
During the operation, a local car dealership was disconnected due to debts of R2.7 million.
“A block of flats in Ennerdale with a R1.5 million debt, and another block in Lenasia Extension 13, which was illegally connected, was disconnected.
“City Power calls on businesses in the area to approach it to arrange for service agreements,” he added.
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