City Power cuts off non-paying customers

City Power is owed over R700m by customers in the Roodepoort region.

On their recent revenue collection drive held on November 28, the entity disconnected eight customers including residential areas and businesses owing more than R24m.

According to a statement sent by City Power’s spokesperson Isaac Mangena, this collection comes after multiple efforts, engagements, messages and pre-termination notices urging them to pay their electricity bills. However, these efforts were all ignored.

“The worst defaulters on the list are two residential complexes, one in Davidsonville owing over R8m and another in Georginia owing R5m. These properties were disconnected and will have to pay a reconnection fee in addition to the amounts they already owe.

“Five residential customers who were disconnected, each had an electricity bill amounting to R2m, while the last customer owed R1.5m,” the statement read.

One business in Horison Park managed to escape a power disconnection after managing to pay R2m just two days before the operation.

“This confirms our assertion that most of the customers fail to pay not because they cannot afford to, but because they think they can get away with it. With these weekly operations, we want to remind all of them that not paying for electricity is unacceptable and comes with harsh consequences.”

According to the statement, Mangena said they’ve also increased boots on the ground to monitor illegal connectors and they will ensure that they are arrested and convicted.

“While we appreciate that some are making the effort to pay for their services, others are reluctant to pay. Those who continue to abuse the system by consuming and not contributing anything towards the upkeep and maintenance of the infrastructure will not only face power supply disconnections but will have their meters removed and will no longer be considered City Power customers.”