City of Johannesburg to remove its electricity meters from the worst defaulters

The CoJ has its worst defaulters in its sights. These customers could soon have their electricity infrastructure, including meters, removed as part of the city’s Project Lokisa credit control initiative.

The CoJ had identified more than 1 300 residential customers with a combined municipal debt of R978m.

These customers have not paid their municipal accounts for more than a year and risk losing their electricity meters due to this, as well as their refusal to make arrangements with the city.

Kgamanyane Maphologela, the director of communications and stakeholder engagement in the Group Finance Department, said that if these customers do not settle their accounts or approach the city within the stipulated period, the CoJ will remove its electricity infrastructure.

“All identified customers have received level 3 disconnection notices informing them that the city will remove the electricity infrastructure at their properties if they do not come forward within the stipulated period,” said Maphologela.

According to Maphologela, a level 3 disconnection is normally the CoJ’s last step after a protracted period of chasing defaulters. It would have, among other things, sent numerous pre-termination notices and reminders and, finally, disconnected services at customers’ properties. However, these customers then illegally reconnect to municipal services.

A level 3 disconnection for electricity services means removing service connections, such as cables, conductors, and meters. Once implemented at a customer’s property, they have to reapply to be reconnected to the grid.

To avoid disconnections and legal action, Maphologela warned customers in arrears to settle their accounts or make payment arrangements with the city at a Customer Service Centre.