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 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, which owes R2.8 billion.

Mothae said the municipality, which includes the towns of Harrismith and Phuthaditjhaba, is considered one of the poorest in the province.

She added that Eskom had noted that a court process was 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.

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, which includes Winburg‚ Brandfort and Theunissen, has a R38.8 million electricity bill outstanding. This municipality has had rolling blackouts and daily power disruptions over the last few months because of 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. – OFM News