Eskom refuses to replace damaged electrical cable. They made it our problem.

On 20 May 2021 at 9:20 pm our power went down. Eskom technicians from the Caledon branch in the Western Cape arrived the next day. They told us the underground cable had previously been damaged - presumably by municipal workers working on water meter some time ago who knicked it while digging near the cable. As time went by, it probably wore through.

Then along came load shedding and the power surge blew the cable. We were told Eskom no longer replaces cables. It is the property owner's responsibility.

This happened on a Friday and our electrician could not find cables in our area (Herm****, WC). Due to the ongoing problem of cable theft in the country, there is always a shortage of cables in the country.

Eskom holds the bulk of the cables. Eskom also constantly subjects the country to load shedding, which caused damage to the cable. Yet Eskom refuses to fix the problem!

Our electrician finally found cables from a electrical supplier in Cape Town. It could only be delivered on the Tuesday and the problem was finally fixed on Wednesday (26 May 2021). So, for 6 days and 7 nights we were without power. And this whole exercise cost us R9000.

I would like to know - since when is replacing cables the resident's responsibility? It is Eskom's job ensure electricity supply and conduct repairs. I want an explanation from Eskom as why they are shirking their responsibility and making it the consumer's problem. I would also like my cable costs and electrician fees refunded (all R9000 of it!).

Deevra Norling - *** (Fisherhaven, Herm****)