Residents of the Rakhat-2 residential complex in Aktau have complained about recurring power outages during the extreme heat. The blackouts also disrupt water supply and stop elevators, reports infohub.kz.
According to residents, the internal power grid cannot handle the high load, and a backup cable that was supposed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply was never installed. The complex has about 800 apartments housing roughly 1,500 people, including children and the elderly. During outages, residents of upper floors have to climb stairs because elevators stop working.
“When the power goes out, we have no water. Because in all high-rise buildings now, water is supplied by pumps. And without electricity, the water supply stops. Upper floors are left without water. Our first request is to fix the electricity issue,” said Asyl Aldabergenkysy, a resident.
The managing company reported that the outages began with the start of summer. Voltage surges have already damaged four pumps. “Since summer began, the electricity keeps cutting off. The drinking water pumps stop working. Then the elevators stop. Since the start of summer, four pumps have burned out due to these outages. We repair and reinstall them. But if this continues, all equipment will break down,” said Meruert Kosherbaeva, head of the managing company.
Residents say the developer, who handed over the building four years ago, has yet to transfer the necessary documents to the power supply company. As a result, the power lines are considered ownerless. Residents have submitted a collective appeal to the authorities, but the problem remains unresolved.
The Akimat of Aktau blamed the outages on excessive load on the power grid. For stable electricity supply during peak hours, a backup cable is needed but unavailable. “The construction company was supposed to lay two cables. But now there is only one. There is no backup cable. So when an outage occurs, repairs take time. The cable lines have already been purchased. Work on laying them is under way as part of the citywide schedule,” said Asset Baspayev, chief specialist of the Housing and Utilities Department of the Akimat of Aktau. The authorities did not give a precise deadline but promised to start laying the cable within a week.