This follows an announcement by Eskom that they will be cutting power to defaulting municipalities.
Metro spokesman Themba Gadebe says the metro has never defaulted on any Eskom account.
“Ekurhuleni residents have nothing to fear in this regard,” he says.
He adds that during winter months, the city’s account to Eskom exceeds R1-billion per month.
Eskom has notified all parties who are likely to be affected, as the company may be interrupting bulk electricity supply to the top 20 defaulting municipalities across the country with effect from June 5.
The Eskom media desk says the total municipal arrears debt, on March 31, was R4.67-b.
“Of this amount, the top 20 defaulting municipalities are currently indebted to Eskom to the amount of R3.68-b for the bulk supply of electricity.”
Eskom has now entered into payment agreements with 10 of the 20 defaulting municipalities.
The total municipal arrears debt has been reduced by R54-million since the agreements with the 10 municipalities
Eskom’s acting chief executive Brian Molefe says Eskom has reached a point where it can no longer continue to provide power without receiving payment in return.
“We are pleased that these 10 municipalities are doing their bit to ensure that they reduce the debt owed to Eskom and we encourage all defaulting municipalities to do the same,” he says.
Eskom recognises that the disconnection of electricity supply may cause undue hardship to consumers and members of the community, and says that customer disconnection is always the last resort explored.
