By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Residents in several communities in the eastern part of Freetown are experiencing electricity interruptions following major technical faults within the distribution network, according to the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA).
In a public notice issued on March 13, 2026, the authority confirmed that the faults occurred within the Far East Distribution Network at the Wellington Power Station, affecting power supply to several communities across the area.
EDSA stated that the disruptions were caused by multiple technical problems across different parts of the network, leading to outages in communities that depend on the Wellington distribution line.
According to the notice, electricity supply to Old Wharf and Wellington has been interrupted after a load cable connecting a transformer to the low voltage panel was burnt. The damage caused the line to be grounded, resulting in an immediate disruption of electricity in those communities.
Another affected location is Dixson Farm along Grafton Old Road. The authority reported that two medium voltage poles collapsed following earth faults on the Kola Tree feeder. The incident disrupted the power supply to homes and businesses in that part of the network.
The outage has also impacted the Bottle Field STEG package area around Kola Tree and Calaba Town. EDSA explained that electricity supply to the location had to be opened off load after a burnt load cable was discovered on the main breaker. This technical failure forced the authority to suspend electricity distribution in the area while repairs are being carried out.
In a separate incident, the pole mounted substation serving PMTC and Upper New York Garage has also been affected. The authority disclosed that the facility was vandalized, leading to the grounding of the substation and interruption of electricity supply to surrounding communities.
EDSA noted that its maintenance teams have already been informed of the various faults and are currently working to restore electricity to the affected communities as quickly as possible.
The authority further assured residents that technical teams are assessing the extent of the damage while repair works continue across the different locations.
Power outages remain a major concern for many residents and businesses in parts of the capital, as electricity supply is essential for daily activities, trade and household needs.
EDSA has apologized to the public for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected interruptions. The authority also appealed to residents for patience and cooperation while efforts continue to restore normal electricity supply to the affected areas.
