Asking Eskom to remove a powerline

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Harmonic

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I recently bought some vacant land that I'm planning to develop. There's a servitude running down the western boundary of the property where Eskom has it's power lines running. About 60m to the north west, from where I want to build the house, eskom has a terminating line running into the property. It's about 50m in from the western boundary. It's basically one gum pole with a transformer on it. Diagram below is probably clearer.

Code: 
                S
  |---------------------------|   |
  |          House            | s |
  |            |              | e |
  |           60m             | r |
  |            \              | v |
E |             \             | i |  W
  |             Powerline-50m-| t |
  |                           | u |
  |                           | d |
  |                           | e |
  |                           |   |
  |---------------------------|   |
               N

No electricity is currently connected on the property and I'm planning on going full solar. Is there any process or way that any one knows of, to get eskom to remove the gumpole and transformer?
 
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stepper

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Since there is a transformer at the end of the 50m line. It means this 50 m line is a medium voltage (MV) distribution line and both the line and transformer belong to Eskom.
An MV line into a private property will have to have a wayleave agreement entered into between previous owner(s) and Eskom.

Does the wayleave agreement exists and when does it expire?
And what are 'other' conditions attached to it?, e.g position of the transformer was chosen so as to feed a neighbour as well or the previous owner was compensated for that wayleave.

Best to contact your nearest Eskom customer services to ask if that indeed that transformer is no longer operational and do they still need it, and also provide you with a copy of the wayleave agreement if you don't have it in your property documents.

If you are sure it is not operational, just apply for a equipment relocation/removal (not sure of correct terminology) with your nearest Eskom customer services.
 
RedViking

RedViking

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That's annoying. You didn't check the vacant land and asked this question before you bought the pole?
 
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Harmonic

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stepper said:
Since there is a transformer at the end of the 50m line. It means this 50 m line is a medium voltage (MV) distribution line and both the line and transformer belong to Eskom.
An MV line into a private property will have to have a wayleave agreement entered into between previous owner(s) and Eskom.

Does the wayleave agreement exists and when does it expire?
And what are 'other' conditions attached to it?, e.g position of the transformer was chosen so as to feed a neighbour as well or the previous owner was compensated for that wayleave.

Best to contact your nearest Eskom customer services to ask if that indeed that transformer is no longer operational and do they still need it, and also provide you with a copy of the wayleave agreement if you don't have it in your property documents.

If you are sure it is not operational, just apply for a equipment relocation/removal (not sure of correct terminology) with your nearest Eskom customer services.
Click to expand...
Very helpful, thank you. Fortunately no one else is supplied on the line so I can hopefully investigate this route to getting it re/moved.

RedViking said:
That's annoying. You didn't check the vacant land and asked this question before you bought the pole?
Click to expand...
Meh, it's not the end of the world. The views are down a valley to the north east.
 
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Harmonic

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pinball wizard said:
Err.... Chainsaw and a trip to your local scrap metal dealer?

Follow me for African solutions daily
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And then the fallen line sets the fynbos on fire. I inadvertently start Knysna fires 2022 edition causing billions of rands worth of damage ruining the lives of thousands. Potential blood on my hands. No thanks, definitely not decolonising my mind :ROFL:
 
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Neuk_

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stepper said:
Since there is a transformer at the end of the 50m line. It means this 50 m line is a medium voltage (MV) distribution line and both the line and transformer belong to Eskom.
An MV line into a private property will have to have a wayleave agreement entered into between previous owner(s) and Eskom.

Does the wayleave agreement exists and when does it expire?
And what are 'other' conditions attached to it?, e.g position of the transformer was chosen so as to feed a neighbour as well or the previous owner was compensated for that wayleave.

Best to contact your nearest Eskom customer services to ask if that indeed that transformer is no longer operational and do they still need it, and also provide you with a copy of the wayleave agreement if you don't have it in your property documents.

If you are sure it is not operational, just apply for a equipment relocation/removal (not sure of correct terminology) with your nearest Eskom customer services.
Click to expand...

I have never seen or heard of an MV (11kV I assume?) line that terminates in the middle of private property. Do you have any pictures @Harmonic ?
 
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Harmonic

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Neuk_ said:
I have never seen or heard of an MV (11kV I assume?) line that terminates in the middle of private property. Do you have any pictures @Harmonic ?
Click to expand...
I only have top down aerial images. Can't make out the numbers on the transformer though. I vaguely remember seeing 22kV on it.
 
Neuk_

Neuk_

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Harmonic said:
I only have top down aerial images. Can't make out the numbers on the transformer though. I vaguely remember seeing 22kV on it.
Click to expand...

22kV :unsure: Post the top down aerial images if you can, that is still considered MV but obviously much, much higher than the 400V that is normally on private residential property.
 
RedViking

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Harmonic said:
Me pretty much to be honest. Getting rough plans together then planning on consulting an architect. Still very early stages
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A client should never design their own house. Get some ideas you like , wants and do not wants , and then let the Architect do their magic. unless you approaching a draftsman or builder to design your house. :p
 
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stepper

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Neuk_ said:
I have never seen or heard of an MV (11kV I assume?) line that terminates in the middle of private property. Do you have any pictures @Harmonic ?
Click to expand...
110 to 400V (LV)
2.2 to 33 kV (MV or Distribution) or reticulation in old terminology (British Standard)
44 to 132 kV (Sub-Transmission) or HV in old terminology
>132kV (Transmission) also HV in old terminology
 
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Harmonic

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RedViking said:
A client should never design their own house. Get some ideas you like , wants and do not wants , and then let the Architect do their magic. unless you approaching a draftsman or builder to design your house. :p
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Sound advice. Although, layout wise, I know how I live better than an architect ever will after a few consultations. The architect for me is more like a double check that I haven't been too silly (no airflow, no sun etc).

It does help that my partner finished her first two years of her architecture degree before switching. We're both reasonably design minded as well.
 
RedViking

RedViking

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Harmonic said:
Sound advice. Although, layout wise, I know how I live better than an architect ever will after a few consultations. The architect for me is more like a double check that I haven't been too silly (no airflow, no sun etc).

It does help that my partner finished her first two years of her architecture degree before switching. We're both reasonably design minded as well.
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First House?
 
RedViking

RedViking

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Harmonic

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RedViking said:
Oh, wow. Okay. Been waiting for a while for someone to share their experience on here. Would also like to buy a land and design and build my house. But will be a first one.



In Cape Town you'll have a lot more options and much cheaper to build.
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To be fair, my partner and I have each owned a single, pre-built, home on our own. I've rented 9 (freestanding and apartments) over the years though (combined 12 together). Some for 6 months but average lease duration for a year. In my younger days I literally just rented wherever I could be closest to work :ROFL: Did a lot of job hopping for extra $$$ before committing to my own thing.
 
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Harmonic

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RedViking said:
In Cape Town you'll have a lot more options and much cheaper to build.
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As far as building goes, planning on doing a lot of it myself but the prices are already looking crazy, even for just a simple brick structure. This is sort of fulfilling my desire to be self sufficient. Build my own shelter, grow my own food etc.
 
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