Winter readiness: City Energy teams attend to encroaching trees near power lines to reduce outage risks

8 June 2024

Stormy weather usually contributes to an increase in electricity outages caused by trees and branches encroaching on power lines and electricity infrastructure. The City’s Energy Directorate has dedicated teams and resources to trimming trees and vegetation encroaching on power lines and electricity infrastructure on its property. The City urges residents to check trees on their properties that pose a risk and to get a professional to safely attend to any encroaching branches or vegetation.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen recently visited the Monte Vista area where the trimming work was carried out. As part of the City’s Winter Readiness programme, the Energy teams are trimming large trees and branches encroaching on critical electricity infrastructure on City property. This important work aims to prevent power disruptions to residents and commercial customers, especially during the colder winter months when winter storms with high wind and rainfall could result in the trees or branches interfering especially with the power lines, leading to outages and high service request volumes. 

‘Our trimming work near our electricity infrastructure is crucial for the safety and reliability of our supply infrastructure. Damaged infrastructure typically takes some time to repair and replace and in many instances, the nature of the repair work is tricky and dangerous. Our Winter Readiness trimming work therefore ensures that we minimise the risk of outages caused by trees and branches on City property.

‘This work will not only ensure that we avoid outages in bad weather, but it is to ensure that we protect the infrastructure all year round. Heavy branches can weigh down on the power lines causing significant damage and regular trimming greatly reduces the strain and prevents any unnecessary and expensive damage to power lines. 

‘We ask residents to have a look at trees and vegetation on their own property that could be a risk to power supply, but to leave tree trimming near all electricity infrastructure to professionals. They may contact the City should they have any concerns. This is dangerous work and should be done by professionals only,’ said Councillor van Reenen.

Trimming trees near electricity infrastructure assists with:

• Safety – regular trimming minimises outages and safety risks (private property owners must call in professionals to trim their trees as it could be dangerous work)

• Reliability of infrastructure – trimming branches ensures that there is sufficient clearance for uninterrupted power flow. Branches can cause power lines to make contact, which could lead to damage and outages 

• Power line protection – trimming reduces strain and prevents damage

• Fire prevention – dry branches can ignite. Trimming eliminates this fire hazard

 

 

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office