Stage 8 load shedding Eskom

Eskom could plunge SA further into darkness this week – Photo: Pixabay.

ICYMI: Eskom considering disconnecting City of Tshwane

Residents in the City of Tshwane could find themselves in the dark very soon, well that’s if all goes according to Eskom’s plan.

Stage 8 load shedding Eskom

Eskom could plunge SA further into darkness this week – Photo: Pixabay.

National power supplier, Eskom, says it is considering disconnecting the City of Tshwane Metro Municipality which includes the capital city, Pretoria, as one of the necessary steps to secure the outstanding payment. The City of Tshwane

According to Eskom, the City of Tshwane is in breach of the Electricity Supply Agreement which it holds with the power supplier by failing to pay the R1.6 billion which was due and payable on 17 August 2022. 

ESKOM CONSIDERING DISCONNECTING CITY OF TSHWANE 

According to the entity, the City of Tshwane only paid R68 million to date, which did little to dent the massive outstanding balance on its electricity account.

The power utility’s Senior Customer Services Manager, Daphne Mokwena said it had numerous engagements with the City’s management to ensure that it pays its account. Nevertheless, these actions have not yielded any results as the City has continued with the same pattern, reportedly. 

ALSO READ: Eskom rejects City’s R878m debt repayment plan

“The inconsistent payments are both untenable and unacceptable since Eskom’s financial position is well known. The City’s persistent failure to honour its payments places a huge burden on Eskom to continue providing it with electricity. 

“Eskom will continue to apply different approaches to recover money owed to it and has acquainted the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of the risks associated with the late payment of the City of Tshwane’s electricity account.”

Daphne Mokwena

METRO ACKNOWLEDGES DEBT

City of Tshwane MMVC for Finance, Ald Peter Sutton said they acknowledge the R1.6 billion debt and are planning to service it. Sutton said their Finance team has been consistently engaging with Eskom on a payment plan.

“The amount owed is only 4 days old and relates to July, all prior debt was paid and this is only a current invoice. Our entire value system is not aligned; Eskom payment date is in 15 (16 August) Tshwane invoices for July are payable around 21 August,” Sutton said.

As previously reported, the power utility said the City owed over R900 million but only made a payment of R10 million on 23 June and R20 million on 30 June 2022. 

Mokwena said as part of the efforts to recover the debt, they previously escalated the matter of the City’s erratic payments to the Executive Mayor, Randall Williams in a meeting held with him and his leadership team in January 2022 and again in June. 

Out of the eight metropolitan municipalities in the country, Tshwane is the only one with erratic payments, according to Eskom. 

ALSO READ: City of Tshwane finally pays whopping R876 million owed to Eskom