City Power intensifies revenue collection in Hursthill area

In a bold move to tackle the city’s mounting electricity debt, City Power has intensified its revenue collection drives, disconnecting numerous defaulting customers across Johannesburg.

According to Isaac Mangena, the spokesperson for City Power, the latest crackdown targeted a total of ten buildings in the Hursthill area, with the combined debt of these customers amounting to more than R43m.

“The major cut-off operation, conducted in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, is part of City Power’s continued efforts to claw back on over R10b owed to the entity, with R1.5b of that debt belonging to customers in the Hursthill SDC areas of supply,” Mangena stated.

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Among the disconnected customers were a car service business property owing R1.7m, a student accommodation property in Brixton, and a business property in Melville, each owing just over R1m.

City Power also disconnected two industrial businesses in Ennerdale and Alexandra, owing R8.6m and R7.1m respectively, as well as a well-known food brand, in arrears of R2m.

“These revenue enhancement initiatives are ongoing and aim to address the high rate of nonpayment by intensifying disconnection operations for high debt defaulters and removing illegal connections,” Mangena explained. The crackdown, however, has not been without its challenges.

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Mangena further stated that in Alexandra, five properties that were cut off the previous week for owing more than R21m collectively, were discovered to have reconnected illegally. City Power’s Revenue Protection Team, with the help of law enforcement, was forced to remove these unauthorized connections.

Nqobani Mzizi, City Power’s senior manager for revenue enhancement, acknowledged the entity’s commitment to working with the community. “We have engaged with a school in Mayfair that had an unpaid electricity bill of R2.6m, and they have entered into a payment agreement with us to keep the lights on and avoid disrupting schooling activities.”

Mzizi stated that City Power has urged customers whose electricity accounts are in arrears to approach their nearest Service Delivery Centre and make payment arrangements.

“Reconnection is contingent on either paying the full outstanding amount or making a payment plan, with options of 50% upfront and the remaining balance payable in installments within six-month, or 30% upfront with installments payable within three-months.”

As the city grapples with the strain on its electricity network due to increasing demand, City Power’s intensified revenue collection efforts aim to alleviate the financial burden and ensure the continued provision of reliable power to the community.

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