INTERRUPTION OF BULK ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO DEFAULTING MUNICIPALITIES
Friday, 10 April 2015: Eskom has moved to notify all parties who are likely to be materially and adversely affected as the company contemplates interrupting bulk electricity supply to the top 20 defaulting municipalities across the country with effect from 05 June 2015.
As at 31 March 2015, the total municipal arrear debt greater than 30 days was R4.6 billion. Of this amount, the top 20 defaulting municipalities are currently indebted to Eskom to the amount of R3.68 billion for the bulk supply of electricity.
The interim Chief Executive of Eskom Mr Zethembe Khoza says: "Non-payment for electricity undermines Eskom's statutory obligation to generate and supply electricity to municipalities nationally on a financially sustainable basis. We have therefore decided to exercise our right according to the provisions of the Electricity Regulation Act 4 of 2006 and the supply agreement with municipalities, which entitled us to disconnect the supply of electricity to defaulting municipalities."
Eskom recognises that the disconnection of electricity supply may cause undue hardship to consumers and members of the community, and may adversely affect the delivery of other services, however, customer disconnection is always the last resort explored.
In view of this, Eskom is contemplating a regulated interruption of electricity as indicated below: