Eskom in talks with ECape government

Eskom was in urgent talks with the Eastern Cape government after the power utility cut power to four municipalities.

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Cape Town - Eskom was in urgent talks with the Eastern Cape government after the power utility implemented power cuts at planned intervals at four municipalities in the province due to the non-payment of debt totalling R173 million.

“This is a measure of last resort to get our money. We issued notices three months ago that payment was due or power interruptions would be implemented,” said Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe on Tuesday.

“We have tried everything possible to avoid these types of interruptions.”

The affected municipalities are Gariep‚ Maletswai‚ Ikwezi and Nxuba. Power cuts are being implemented between 6am and 9am, between 12pm and 2pm, and between 5pm and 9pm every day.

“The plan ultimately is to see if we can come up with some settlement of this matter,” Phasiwe said.

“They need to pay some of the amount they owe. If they do make some kind of payment and sign an agreement with us on how they’re going to pay the rest, and we’re comfortable with that, the [power] interruptions will stop.

Phasiwe said 55 out of 60 municipalities in the country identified by National Treasury, who owe the utility billions of rand, have honoured payment agreements.

However, the four Eastern Cape municipalities and one in the Free State, which has taken Eskom to court to stop power cuts, have not been paying their outstanding debt.

African News Agency

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