Johannesburg residents are preparing for a scheduled power outage as City Power conducts an eight-hour maintenance programme across selected areas. The utility says the shutdowns are necessary to repair ageing infrastructure and prevent larger faults in the future. While the interruption is temporary, residents are urged to take precautions and check whether their area is listed.
Why maintenance outages are happening
City Power has explained that parts of Johannesburg’s electrical network are under strain due to ageing equipment and growing demand. Substations, switching stations and underground cables in several regions need upgrades or repairs. Planned maintenance allows technicians to replace damaged components, perform safety checks and test systems without working on live infrastructure.
This type of outage is different from load-shedding. Load-shedding is triggered nationally when electricity generation cannot meet demand. Maintenance outages are controlled, localised and announced in advance. The aim is to prevent long-term damage to the grid and reduce the number of emergency blackouts.
Suburbs previously affected by planned shutdowns
The list of affected suburbs changes with each maintenance window. City Power schedules work based on the condition of infrastructure, fault reports and substation capacity. Outages are not citywide but apply only to areas supplied by a targeted substation or feeder line.
Recent planned outages have included parts of:
- The inner city and CBD fringe
- Jeppestown, New Centre, Park Central and Village Deep
- Marshalltown, Wemmer and Selby and their extensions
- Sections of Midrand, including James Crescent, Richards Drive and Pretoria Road
- Parts of Randburg linked to older feeder lines
- Selected areas in Soweto where cables or substations are being upgraded
In some cases, businesses and residential blocks share the same grid section. Complexes, industrial zones and mixed-use neighbourhoods are often listed together when they fall under the same feeder.
Why the list of areas changes
Each maintenance operation is linked to a substation or specific section of the network. When City Power shuts down a substation, all areas supplied by that infrastructure are affected during the eight-hour window. Once repairs are completed, the focus shifts to another region with priority maintenance needs.
This means that two households in the same suburb may have different experiences depending on their supply point. For example, one part of Randburg may lose power while another remains unaffected because it is connected to a different substation.
Street names and extensions listed in official notices are often more accurate than suburb names alone. Residents are encouraged to check their feeder, street or complex name rather than relying on area references.
Timing of the planned power outage
Most maintenance windows run either from 08:00 to 16:00 or from 09:00 to 17:00. These hours give technicians enough time to complete inspections, replace faulty parts and restore the system safely. In some instances, work finishes earlier than scheduled, but residents are advised to plan for the full duration.
There are also cases where maintenance may be delayed due to weather, access issues or unexpected faults. If that happens, City Power usually reschedules the affected area to a later date.
How an eight-hour outage affects residents and businesses
A Power Outages of this length can interrupt home routines, retail operations and service delivery. Households lose access to lighting, Wi-Fi, heating or cooling systems and household appliances. Food storage becomes a concern if freezers and fridges are opened repeatedly.
Businesses that rely on point-of-sale systems, network access and refrigeration may need alternative plans for the day. Some shops close temporarily, while others switch to generators or reduced operations. Schools, clinics and office parks with backup power usually continue functioning but may scale back activity.
Traffic can also be affected. When traffic lights on the affected feeder are offline, congestion increases at major intersections unless alternative arrangements are made.
Safety measures during the outage
City Power has warned residents to treat all power points as live throughout the shutdown. Electricity can return earlier than expected if work is completed sooner. Unplugging appliances and switching off sensitive electronics helps protect them from voltage spikes when power is restored.
Lifts should not be used close to the outage time, and residents in security estates or complexes are advised to keep manual access keys on hand. Alarm systems and electric gates should be checked to ensure battery backups are working.
How to prepare in advance
Residents and businesses can reduce inconvenience with a few practical steps:
Charge essential devices.
Phones, laptops, power banks and rechargeable lights should be charged the night before or early in the morning.
Protect appliances.
Unplug TVs, computers and other sensitive equipment before the scheduled shutdown starts.
Manage refrigeration.
Keeping fridge and freezer doors closed helps retain cold temperatures. Preparing food earlier in the day can also reduce the impact.
Plan movement and access.
Gates and garage doors may not function without power. Manual overrides should be tested ahead of time.
Support vulnerable residents.
People using medical equipment that relies on electricity may need to relocate temporarily or arrange alternative power.
Adjust travel expectations.
If traffic lights go down, drivers should give themselves extra time and use routes with roundabouts or four-way stops.
Why the maintenance matters
Without planned shutdowns, damaged transformers, cable faults and overloaded substations can cause unplanned blackouts that last much longer than eight hours. Emergency repairs often take more time and affect more residents. Scheduled maintenance gives City Power a chance to prevent these situations while controlling the impact.
Johannesburg continues to experience rapid growth in both residential and commercial developments. Electricity infrastructure installed years ago now carries heavier demand. Regular maintenance is necessary to keep systems safe and reduce the risk of large-scale faults.
Looking ahead
While the scheduled power outage creates inconvenience, it forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the grid and improve long-term reliability. Residents are encouraged to stay informed, review outage notices when they are released and prepare in advance when their area is listed.
If additional suburbs are scheduled in the coming weeks, the same principles will apply: confirm your supply zone, plan around the outage window and safeguard equipment before power is restored.
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