Power Supply in the Rewa Delta
Hasmukh Patel, Energy Fiji Limited CEO
We refer to the letter written by Alipate Senikuta titled, “Power denials” published in the ‘ýour views’ column of the Fiji Sun on Tuesday 7th July, 2020.
In order to ensure reliability and security of power supply, Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) carries out periodic planned maintenance on its network. In the interest of safety for all, whilst carrying out planned maintenance works on the distribution lines, there are planned power shut downs. These planned power shutdowns are published in the daily media for the information of all our valued customers. In addition to this, all planned and unplanned shutdown notices are also posted on our website, EFL Facebook page and text messages are sent to account holders in the affected area if they are registered account holders and have registered a current mobile number with EFL.
In the event there are sporadic/transient power disruptions, this is caused due to unforeseen faults on the power network, inclement weather (lightning strikes), foreign objects touching the power lines, etc. In the recent past, we have had a lot of power disruptions due to accidents, whereby vehicles have collided onto the EFL power poles, as well as due to members of the public cutting down trees which then fall on to the power lines.
EFL can confirm that there have been unplanned power outages in the recent past, which affected customers in the Rewa Delta area. The causes of these unplanned power outages are varied and range from failure of ageing assets along the power lines, vehicles colliding with EFL power poles, members of the public cutting trees which then fell on to the power lines, lightning strikes, isolation of power lines for safety reasons due to house fires, unauthorised connection of load, etc.
While Energy Fiji Limited does its best to prevent failures by carrying out regular planned maintenance, the maintenance program for 2020, has been severely disrupted due to COVID-19 related restrictions and Tropical Cyclone Harold. EFL is currently trying to catch up on the affected maintenance and requests the understanding of our valued customers in this regard. In addition, unauthorised connection of load in the Rewa Delta area by some customers has resulted in the operation of power line protection fuses and our teams are currently trying to identify the unauthorised load for disconnection. In the interim, the electrical protection in this area is being reviewed, to minimize outages related to these unauthorised connections
Any suggestions that “continuous power denials from Energy Fiji Limited to consumers in the Rewa Delta” or for that matter, anywhere else, is far from the truth. Our business is to generate, distribute and retail electricity to our valued customers.
EFL requests the cooperation of all parties working in the vicinity of power lines to exercise extreme caution during the course of their work, to ensure that any addition of load is carried out by Licensed Electrical Contractors using appropriate “Application of Power Supply Form”, and to drive safely so as to avoid collision with power poles so that power disruptions can be avoided for the convenience of one and all.