This forms part of the municipality’s payment agreement with the utility giant after the municipality fell behind on its payments.
For the past three months the municipality literally pulled the rabbit out of several hats. On May 14 they paid R54-million to Eskom, on May 31 they managed to pay a staggering R131-million. On June 12 R48 002 351 was paid over and now they have to make sure Eksom receives R86 333 268 before July 18.
On Monday, July 6 R16 333 268 was already in the coffers ready to be paid, however Eskom is not going to show any mercy and the municipality needs to get another R70-million urgently.
“Please ensure that your accounts are up to date to enable us to meet this payment,” asked the acting municipal manager, Mr Theo van Vuuren.
He shared a few important points on cut-offs with consumers and said after receiving your account for the previous period it will show your current account and due date which is the last day of the month in which you received the account.
“We allow seven days following that before the computer will start to randomly print cut off lists for people who have not honoured their payments. If you are already in arrears due to a previous account not fully paid your account may be generated on the cut off list at any time even months after first due date should it still be in arrears,” he said.
Not receiving an account does not exempt you from paying.
Accounts are posted, balances are available on the SMS line, it can be inquired by calling in and consumers who have registered will from now on receive their accounts electronically.
“If you have prepaid by buying prepaid and not paying the rest of your account will also result in your electricity being cut until arrangements are made to correct the situation,” Van Vuuren warned.
Consumers who are cut off will be charged a reconnection fee.
Van Vuuren said they will not tolerate tampering with meters or consumers illegally reconnecting themselves, “Consumers who reconnect themselves or through other illegal means will be fined an additional R5000 for tempering and should it happen twice the cable will be removed. Reconnection fees for that are significantly higher. Should this become a repeated offence then criminal charges will be laid.
When your electricity is off first determine whether there is no other reason for it being off such as part of load shedding, internal trip, or whether your account has been paid before reporting it as a problem.
The hotline is also doing its part in helping the municipality fighting illegal connections. Cases involving illegal connections and potential fraud have been reported and are being investigated. Three other reports were also received but are of a non specific nature which can not be investigated. Be sure you have all the facts when you report a case on the hotline. The hotline’s number is 31650.
“Your support to clean up our city of illegal activities by reporting cases will be appreciated,” Van Vuuren said.
