Eskom rolls out customer incentive campaign
In addition to receiving the 50% discount on the remedial charge fee, prepaid customers who come clean will not have their electricity disconnected, and Eskom will not charge them for the period during which they did not pay for electricity used illegally.
POWER utility, Eskom, is urging its delinquent customers to come clean by offering them incentives through its Customer Incentive Campaign in KwaZulu-Natal. Eskom has launched the campaign countrywide in an attempt to fight electricity theft and non payment.
KZN prepaid customers are being offered a 50 per cent discount on tamper fines they have been issued for tampering to bypassing their electricity meters, or connecting electricity illegally and using illegal prepaid vouchers instead of purchasing valid vouchers. Customers who agree to come clean and be legal will have an opportunity to have their electricity supply normalised without having to pay the full tamper fine and the reconnection fee.
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According to Eskom’s GM in the province, Monde Bala, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, the Eastern Cape, and the Free State are among the provinces where the national power utility experiences the highest energy and revenue losses. “This does not mean that other provinces are excluded. We are prioritising the hotspot provinces first, with a view to covering the whole country in the coming months,” he said.
“The campaign also responds to customer demands, which means that where there is a high demand from customers for the introduction of the Customer Incentive Campaign, that is where we are likely to launch it first,” Bala added.
To be considered for the 50% discounted tamper fine, or to get more information regarding the offer in their area, customers can report to their nearest Eskom customer service centre and bring along their South African ID or passport, meter number, pole or stand number, and recent proof of residence. The Customer Incentive Campaign in KwaZulu-Natal runs until 31 March 2019.
In addition to receiving the 50% discount on the remedial charge fee, prepaid customers who come clean will not have their electricity disconnected, and Eskom will not charge them for the period during which they did not pay for electricity used illegally. Furthermore, the customers will have debt relief, reduced power outages, free meters at their homes, and reduced safety risks and will not face any consequences.
In terms of payment, Eskom has requested that all monies be paid into the designated Eskom bank account given at the Eskom customer service centres, with the banking reference being the customer’s Eskom account number. No money must be paid to any Eskom official or any other person or account other than the stipulated Eskom bank account.
Bala said that Eskom continued to put in place numerous strategies aimed at combating energy losses and non-payment. These include disconnecting those who do not come forward during the incentive period, removal of illegal connections, subsidising low-income customers, working with law enforcement for arrests and prosecutions, issuing tamper fines, as well as replacing faulty meters as part of the utility’s maintenance and refurbishment programmes.
“We urge people to continue to report electricity theft anonymously to the Crime Line number: 32211 (R1,00 per SMS), the Crime Line website: www.crimeline.co.za, or the Eskom reporting line: 0800 112 722, which is toll free,” said Bala .
He also urged the public to get more information, education, and awareness about becoming clean, safe, and legal by using the following contact methods:
Eskom Website: www.eskom.co.za
Twitter: @Eskom_SA
Facebook: Eskom.co.za
Eskom Call centre number: 0860 037 566 or 086 00 Eskom
Eskom customer service e-mail: Customerservice@eskom.co.za
