IN an effort to enhance service delivery and ensure residents have access to basic services such as electricity, customers who are in arrears will have access to the reinstatement of electricity services provided that an Acknowledgement of Debt in favour of the Municipality for the total outstanding debt has been signed and that the customer enters into a Credit Authority for the full amount.
This resolution follows the tabling of a report at the final Executive Committee meeting for 2018 held recently.
The initial report was tabled at the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee on 30 November granting authority in certain instances, to deviate from the current Credit Control Policy 2018/19 and grant a Credit Authority to residential property supply.
The report stated that the deposit amount and payment terms of the Credit Authority will be calculated with due cognisance of the affordability level of the customer, however the period for the agreement will not exceed 36 months.
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The customer will continue to have access to electricity as long as the terms and conditions of Acknowledgment of Debt and Credit Authority are honoured.
Chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee Councillor Mondli Mthembu said a number of eThekwini residents are facing tough economic times and this was a lifeline for customers to enter into an agreement to pay their debt while their electricity supply is reinstated.
“They will not be disconnected after they have filled in an affordability form and an affordability assessment has been done, provided that they honour their payments. Their meters will be removed and be replaced with prepaid meters to ensure they can monitor their usage,” said Councillor Mthembu.
Deputy City Manager of Finance Krish Kumar said this was a progressive way of managing service delivery. He said it would ensure people have services as long as they keep to the credit arrangements.
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