A risk by Eskom to start slicing electrical energy provide to Johannesburg over town’s debt to the electrical energy utility has been met with an indignant response.
In a joint assertion late on Thursday night time, the Metropolis of Johannesburg and its electrical energy provide utility, Metropolis Energy, described Eskom’s transfer as “unjust, counterproductive and probably dangerous to residents and companies”.
Eskom mentioned in a press release on Thursday that it had written to town, informing it that it might begin slicing energy quickly if town didn’t settle its debt of R4.9-billion (plus R1.4-billion that can fall due on the finish of this month).
The facility can be interrupted at “sure pre-determined instances of day in accordance with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (Paja)”, Eskom mentioned.
“Regardless of all of the avenues that Eskom explored and efforts to accommodate the CoJ, the matter has reached a degree the place Eskom can merely not afford to accommodate town with out placing additional monetary pressure on and harming its personal enterprise,” the state-owned electrical energy utility mentioned.
“A last determination on whether or not Eskom will proceed with the interruption can be communicated after a overview of the representations acquired by means of the Paja course of on 12 December 2024.”
However Joburg and Metropolis Energy have now hit again at Eskom, saying they’re “deeply involved” by its announcement.
‘Authorized recourse’
“The CoJ has persistently demonstrated its dedication to assembly its monetary obligations and has engaged with Eskom to handle billing points. Nonetheless, Eskom has failed to supply readability on disputed billing prices, forcing town to hunt authorized recourse to guard the rights and pursuits of its residents,” a press release mentioned.
“Opposite to Eskom’s claims, there are ongoing disputes concerning overbilling of over R3.4-billion, with a pending attraction and month-to-month declarations since July 2024. Town has repeatedly raised issues about this continued overbilling, which Eskom has failed to handle, inserting extra pressure on town’s assets.”
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“We’re dedicated to making sure uninterrupted entry to electrical energy for the individuals of Johannesburg,” mentioned town’s chief monetary officer, Tebogo Moraka, within the assertion. “We urge Eskom to retract its public discover and have interaction in real, good-faith negotiations to resolve these issues constructively.”
Joburg vowed to “discover all accessible authorized avenues to forestall any disruptions to the electrical energy provide” and urged Eskom to retract its determination. – © 2024 NewsCentral Media
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