Central Substation explosion delays power restoration in Johannesburg

Johannesburg residents who have been waiting for their electricity to return will have to wait longer after an explosion at Central Substation disrupted restoration efforts on Wednesday evening.

City Power had been working to reconnect affected areas when the incident occurred, creating further uncertainty around when supply would be restored.

The outage continues to affect Marshalltown, Wemmer, Selby, parts of the Johannesburg Inner City, and sections of Albert, Eloff, Commissioner and Anderson streets.

Explosion interrupts restoration work

According to City Power, technical teams were attempting to restore electricity using a newly installed feederboard when the explosion occurred.

Emergency Management Services (EMS) responded to the scene after smoke was reported coming from the substation.

The setback came as the utility was already dealing with equipment problems. The Selby incomer, which had failed the previous day, reportedly failed again during the restoration attempt.

City Power has yet to establish what caused the explosion or how extensively the equipment was damaged.

The utility said the site would need to be assessed before technicians could determine what repairs were required and how the restoration work could proceed.

When will electricity return?

The explosion has thrown the previous restoration target into doubt.

City Power had hoped to restore electricity to most affected areas by midday on Thursday, 15 October 2026. However, the utility has since said it can no longer confirm that deadline.

A revised timeline will depend on when the site is declared safe, the findings of the damage assessment and the work needed to repair the affected equipment.

For residents and businesses already dealing with an extended outage, the latest development means there is no confirmed replacement deadline yet.

City Power described the explosion as a further setback to work that was already underway, saying the incident had complicated efforts to restore supply.

Residents and businesses face further disruption

Prolonged power outages can affect far more than household lighting and appliances. For businesses in the inner city, an interruption can disrupt daily operations, affect electronic payment systems and create additional costs.

Residents may also have to contend with interrupted routines while waiting for an update on when electricity will return.

City Power acknowledged the strain the ongoing disruption has placed on affected customers and said its teams had been working to restore supply before the latest incident.

However, the utility has stressed that a reliable restoration estimate will only be possible once the damage and necessary repairs are understood.

City Power warns residents to stay away

City Power said it would provide further information about the condition of the equipment and the next steps once the details had been verified.

In the meantime, residents are urged to keep away from Central Substation and other electricity infrastructure.

The warning includes underground cable tunnels, manholes and related equipment, which can pose serious safety risks.

Anyone living or working in the affected areas should follow City Power’s official updates for confirmed information about repairs and electricity restoration.

Until the damage assessment is complete, the return of power to the affected parts of Johannesburg remains uncertain.

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Source: The Citizen