Eskom ‘won’t punish public’

Eskom is not planning to switch off the lights in the Free State this festive season despite some municipalities defaulting on payments.

Yesterday Eskom deputy spokesperson Dikatso Mothae said total blackouts or interruptions across the province during the holiday season were not anticipated.

This was despite the Free State owing the power utility a whopping R7.6 billion.

Leading the pack of debtors is Maluti-A-Phofung local municipality in the northern Free State.

This council owed Eskom R2.8 billion.

The municipality, which includes the towns of Harrismith and Phuthaditjhaba, was considered to be one of the poorest municipalities in the province, Mothae said.

Mothae added that Eskom had noted that a court process was currently under way to determine payment methods, hinting at a possible direct payment agreement with consumers.

Matjhabeng local municipality owed about R2 billion.

Mothae said a payment agreement had been reached, but the municipality had defaulted in respect of the terms and conditions of it.

Ngwathe local municipality owed Eskom just over R900 million.

According to the power utility, this municipality had been keeping to its repayment agreement so far.

Masilonyana municipality has a R38.8 million electricity bill outstanding.

This municipality, which includes Winburg‚ Brandfort and Theunissen, has over the last few months had rolling blackouts and daily power disruptions as a result of its non-payment.

The Tokologo local municipality owed R30 million.

Other municipalities that owed Eskom included Mangaung and Nala.

Mothae said that power interruptions were normally the last resort.

“We certainly do hope that the interventions by both the provincial and national governments will help affected municipalities in order to keep the lights on,” Mothae said.

“We are continuing to engage with the affected municipalities to find amicable solutions,” she said.

Mothae said the total amount that was now owed by municipalities to Eskom nationally was R17 billion.

The affected municipalities had urged communities under their jurisdiction to pay for their services, she added.

But the nonpayment of basic services by citizens led to municipalities in turn being unable to keep up with payments to Eskom and consequently defaulting. – OFM News