Indigent households urged to claim free basic electricity

Increased poverty is one of the devastating side-effects of COVID-19 spreading rapidly through the Free State, even amongst those who do not contract the disease. Unfortunately, the incomes of many households are amongst the
economic casualties of COVID-19.
One way to lessen the impact of the economic crisis on households is through Free Basic Electricity (FBE) – a longstanding government initiative implemented by Eskom
and municipalities. FBE is available to indigent households.
In the Free State, 15% of indigents identified by municipalities are unfortunately not collecting their FBE. Of the 49 721 indigent Free State households identified by
municipalities, only 42 369 are claiming their benefit.
“It is sad to see that many households are not making use of aid that can have a positive impact on their lives – either because they are unaware of the benefit or
because they do not know how to collect it,” says Agnes Mlambo, Acting General Manager of Eskom in the Free State.
Eskom urged all customers who have been advised by their respective municipalities that they do qualify for the FBE benefit to not let this relief go to waste.
To claim the benefit, customers should visit their nearest vendor. Alternatively, USSD codes *130*869# or *130*269# are available to already configured customers to claim
the benefit via a cell phone at no charge to the customer.
Eskom supplied customers who wish to ascertain whether they qualify for the FBE benefit should do so by contacting their local municipal office, local ward councillor or a Community Development Worker.