Gloria Motsoere 25 February 2024 | 6:40

City Power says schools and hospitals biggest defaulters

The power utility’s revenue collection is under pressure with residents and businesses falling behind on payments for electricity. This has pushed the power supplier to cut off the lights in some areas.

City Power says schools and hospitals biggest defaulters

Picture: © paylessimages/123rf.com

JOHANNESBURG - City Power says schools and hospitals in Joburg are among the biggest defaulters, as unpaid electricity bills mount.

The power utility’s revenue collection is under pressure with residents and businesses falling behind on payments for electricity. This has pushed the power supplier to cut off the lights in some areas.

This includes a Damelin campus in Braamfontein which was plunged into darkness this past week for failing to settle almost three million rand in electricity debt.

City Power says defaulting customers have left the utility with a four billion rand debt pile.

Government departments in the Joburg CBD have been identified as some of the defaulting customers in the area.

It is understood that they account for a large portion of the money owed to the metro for electricity.

City Power says it is unfortunate that state-owned entities are failing to pay for services.

Last year, the power utility threatened to cut off power supply to the Charlotte Maxeke Academic hospital with its debt sitting at over 40 million rand.

The latest cut-off drive left five businesses in the dark.