Eskom and Emalahleni Local Municipality is still sitting around the table discussing the future plans with the municipality.
There is still a possibility that Eskom can still flick the switch if the talks fail.
The economic turndown as well as the continued difficulties to curb illegal utilisation of electricity is making the municipality vulnerable.
“Currently we have paid our previous current account and our next current account which will be about R60-million, is due later this week. The arrears amount including interest stand at close to R550-million on the main account. This includes interest of R39-million accrued since last June,” said the Municipal Manager Mr Theo van Vuuren.
He said current discussions with Eskom deals not only with ensuring payment of the account but also in finding longer term sustainable solutions to prevent future problems.
“The impact of the winter accounts and as well as the high level of unrecovered cost from consumers and mitigations to deal with this, also is part of these discussions,” Van Vuuren said.
“Eskom is also finalising discussions with Emalahleni Local Municipality and we remain positive that an agreement will be concluded very soon,” is a positive reaction form Eskom.
As for the other municipalities in the province who had defaulted on their payments, Eskom have reached agreements with them.
“We are pleased to report that we have reached principle agreements with the following three municipalities, namely Chief Albert Luthuli, Mkhondo and Thaba Chweu Local Municipalities,” Eskom said in a statement.
Eskom will continue to engage the remaining four municipalities namely, Goven Mbeki, Lekwa, Emakhazeni and Nkomazi Local Municipality and they are confident that the parties will reach reasonable repayment agreements. However, should the agreements not be concluded within the week, Eskom will continue with the disconnection process.
Van Vuuren is excited about the cell phone billing tests and said it has progressed well and the municipality is in the process of updating the data base.
“I haven’t received negative feedback except in cases where people do not have internet compatible phones and those who complain regarding the data costs on some networks. These matters are being considered,” he said.
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