MONDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2020: On 31 January 2020 Eskom served a notice to
Letsemeng Local Municipality informing the Municipality of its intention to
withhold the provision of electricity supply services to the
Municipality. This was as a result of the Municipality’s contravention of
the payment conditions with Eskom.
Despite
numerous demands the Municipality has failed to honour payment of its
electricity accounts to Eskom.
Eskom recognises that indefinitely withholding
electricity supply may cause undue hardship to consumers and members of the
community, and may adversely affect the delivery of other services.
In view of this and in order to minimise any
hardship to consumers and members of the community, Eskom will withhold its
electricity supply services in a regulated pattern as opposed to an outright
disconnection. This will allow members of the community and consumers the
opportunity to make alternative arrangements for the scheduled periods.
As a result of the Municipality’s non-payment,
Koffiefontein, Luckhoff and Petrusburg will experience daily scheduled
electricity outages at the following times:
20 February 2020 until breach is remedied
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Monday to Sunday
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06h00 – 20h00
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Notwithstanding the above proposed indicative
times for the withholding of electricity supply services, Eskom may, upon seven
calendar days’ notice, serve the notice to terminate electricity supply
services entirely and indefinitely should the Municipality’s debt situation not
improve.
Eskom advises all parties who are likely to be
materially and adversely affected by the withholding of electricity supply
services to take all necessary precautions to ensure safety of lives and to
limit damages to their equipment, operations and business.
Eskom
generates and supplies electricity to the Municipality at a cost and has a
statutory obligation to perform these duties on a financially sustainable
basis. Equal to Eskom’s obligation, the Municipality has a reciprocal duty to
pay Eskom for the electricity supplied to it. In terms of both the provisions of the Electricity
Regulation Act 4 of 2006 and the Electricity Supply Agreement between Eskom and
the Municipality, Eskom is entitled to withhold electricity supply services to
the Municipality on account of non-payment of the electricity debt.
For more information and updates, contact the
Eskom Contact Centre on 08600 37566.
ENDS