City Power disconnects customers owing R21m
With the Hursthill Service Delivery Centre owed R1.6b, City Power intensifies efforts to tackle the city’s mounting debt backlog.
City Power has launched a decisive enforcement operation against repeat defaulters as part of its intensified revenue collection campaign. Conducted on July 18, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the operation targeted four buildings within the Hursthill Service Delivery Centre (SDC) area, where a combined debt exceeding R21m.
Among the disconnections were an industrial business in Industria and a mixed-use residential/commercial property in Westdene, which owed R14m and R5m, respectively. Additionally, a vehicle repair business in Newlands, with an outstanding balance of just over R1m, and a residential flat in Brixton, in arrears of R1.7m, were also disconnected.
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City Power expressed alarm at the fact that all disconnected customers had previously been cut off for non-payment, but chose to reconnect illegally instead of settling their accounts. Particularly concerning was the case of the Industria customer, who had been disconnected just a week prior. Instead of engaging with City Power to resolve the debt, the customer opted for unlawful reconnection.
In response to these violations, City Power executed level 3 disconnections at three of the targeted buildings, which involves the removal of critical infrastructure to prevent future illegal reconnections.
Nokuthula Nxumalo, customer service manager at Hursthill SDC, stated: “We are going to be engaging with our risk control department to explore measures in ensuring that these customers face the full might of the law.”
She emphasised that the SDC is continuously engaging with customers in arrears, noting: “We have customers who were on our disconnection list, however, through productive engagement, they have made arrangements to settle their debts before being disconnected.”
The utility reiterated the importance of compliance, stating: “We urge customers, whose electricity accounts are in arrears, to approach their nearest SDC and make a payment arrangement.”
For reconnection, customers must either pay the full outstanding amount or make a payment arrangement, with options including paying 50% of the debt upfront and the remaining balance in six-month instalments, or 30% upfront with three-month instalments.
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