Power outages loom

Eskom has announced that it intends taking tough measures against municipalities that owe the energy provider millions.
If Eskom implements the proposed interruption of the bulk electricity supply to 20 defaulting municipalities, residents of Msukaligwa Municipality are staring eight daily midweek hours of darkness and six hours daily on weekends in the face.
This is according to the proposed regulated interruption of electricity by Eskom.
The power generating company is owed R4.6 billion by 56 municipalities countrywide. Of this amount, 20 municipalities are currently indebted to Eskom to the amount of R3.68 billion for the bulk supply of electricity.
Eskom’s interim Chief Executive, Mr Zethembe Khoza, says non-payment for electricity undermines the company’s capability to generate and supply electricity to municipalities.
However, Eskom recognises that disconnections of the electricity supply may cause undue hardship to consumers and may negatively affect service delivery.
The company maintains that disconnection is the last resort to be explored.
This development comes amid the National Treasury freezing funds to the 56 municipalities in debt to Eskom, after the power generating company threatened to cut the power to these municipalities.
However, national government persuaded it not to do so.
National Treasury has withheld these municipalities’ equitable share-money meant for services such as water, electricity and refuse removal.
This has angered the affected municipalities and they have threatened to go to court.
On Monday, the EBA held a briefing session with its directors and members of the media, where they raised their concerns about the municipality’s non-payment to Eskom as well as to the Rand Water Board (RWB).
According to the EBA, Msukaligwa Municipality currently owes Eskom R108 million and the RWB R198 million.
The EBA is worried that this places the town and its economy in serious jeopardy for the future.
In a statement to the media, the EBA says Ermelo is suffering the collapse of roads, water supply, electrical and sewer networks.
The association said that as a community organisation, it had a mandate to stop the municipality from “devouring” all the resources of the town. They announced that they have a plan of action drawn up for this situation and will communicate it to the public in due course.
During the briefing, serious allegations of electricity meter tampering to ratchet up higher payments for electricity by businesses to the municipality were made.
Several consumers have complained about inaccurate and escalated accounts, while other unpaid accounts are allegedly allowed to swell to thousands of rand without any intervention from the municipality.
The Highvelder itself is billed for using exactly 132 kilolitres of water every month at almost R2 500.
How the water usage is determined is not clear, as the water meter is inaccessible, buried under soil and weeds.
The offices do not have showers or baths and tea and coffee are made with bottled water. The only water used is for the flushing of toilets and doing a few dishes.
If Eskom’s proposed regulated interruption does materialise on 5 June, consumers that pay for their municipal services regularly will be affected along with the non-paying contingent, including those with illegal connections.
During the weekend, representatives of Eskom, Msukaligwa and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) met to discuss the way forward.
A request for information on this meeting was submitted to the municipality and details will be published in the next edition of the newspaper.