(ANA) – Eskom intends to cut bulk electricity to 20 defaulting municipalities. The power utility is owed billions of rands – R3.68-billion by the defaulters. Its deadline is June 7.
A statement by the Commission’s interim CE, Zethembe Khoza, says Eskom has warned that non-payment “undermines Eskom’s statutory obligation to generate and supply electricity to municipalities nationally on a financially sustainable basis. We have therefore decided to exercise our right according to the provisions of the Electricity Regulation Act 4 of 2006 and the supply agreement with municipalities, which entitled us to disconnect the supply of electricity to defaulting municipalities.”
Eskom acknowledges that a consequence will be “undue hardship” – but that “customer disconnection is always the last resort explored”.
The list of defaulting municipalities will be published for each province by 30 April in local provincial media channels, and affected consumers would be given adequate notice and the opportunity to make written representations/
The list of the top 20 defaulting municipalities (in no particular order) is as follows:
Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality,Matjhabeng Municipality, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Ngwathe Local Municipality, Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, Lekwa Local Municipality, Govan Mbeki Municipality, City of Matlosana Local Municipality, Naledi Local Municipality, Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Lichtenburg Municipality, Nala Local Municipality, Makana Local Municipality, Madibeng Local Municipality, Randfontein Local Municipality, Dihlabeng Municipality, Nketoana Local Municipality, Nama Khoi Local Municipality and Westonaria Local Municipality.
