The Customer Incentive Campaign (CIC) or Come Clean Campaign tour went to the Rasewana, Moshage, Mavele and Nkambako Villages to experience first-hand rampant illegal connections, use of illegal pre-paid vouchers and their impact on the economy of the country. Electricity theft remains a serious threat to South Africa’s economic growth. South Africa loses approximately R20 billion a year to electricity theft – through illegal connections, non-payment, meter tampering, meter bypassing, and ghost vending, among others. Roughly R5 billion of the R20 billion lost to electricity theft is lost by Eskom.
“Limpopo, along with Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North-West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, have been identified as South Africa’s electricity theft hotspot areas. It is, therefore, against this backdrop that Eskom, through its Come Clean Campaign is offering its prepaid customers the opportunity to come clean and report any ‘irregular’ electricity usage,” said Eskom Senior Advisor Energy Protection, Stephen Masemola. Customers who come forward during the come clean period, which came into effect on October 15 until December 15, will receive a 50% discount on the once-off remedial fee.
“This presents such a golden opportunity to rectify wrongdoing, no questions will be asked, and customers can resume normal purchasing of electricity going forward,” said Masemola. Affected prepaid users are encouraged to register their cases at their nearest Eskom Customer Service Centre. In addition to receiving the 50% discount on the remedial charge fee, prepaid customers who come clean during the announced period will not be disconnected and Eskom will not charge them for the period that they did not pay for electricity used.
“Eskom is always looking for partners to assist in eradicating the illegal use of electricity. South Africans must take up this opportunity to come clean and normalise their electricity supply,” said Thomas Ceko, Customer Relations Manager Mopani District.
Once the reporting has been done, Eskom technicians will come out to replace the meter free of charge. Customers who should come clean are those who have: Tampered with their meters; Bypassed meters; Faulty meters; Meters not installed by approved Eskom service providers; Illegally connected meters; Or used illegal prepaid vouchers. To come clean, customers must bring the following documents to the Eskom Customer Service Centre: A South African ID book or passport; meter number, pole or stand number and proof of residence. Customers are urged to take up this opportunity to come clean and assist Eskom in delivering sustainable supply of electricity
