City Power introduces stringent measures to debtors before reconnecting electricity

JOHANNESBURG - Some residential buildings in Joburg are likely to spend the whole weekend in the dark, after City Power cut off electricity supply over outstanding debt.

The utility carried out its revenue collection drive in the Hursthill area on Friday, cutting off electricity supply to at least seven buildings that owe a combined R52 million to the city.

It said majority of the defaulting customers in the metro were big businesses that consume sizeable power from the grid.

City Power's Hursthill manager Nokuthula Nxumalo said such businesses would not be reconnected unless they paid back a portion of the money owed to the city.

"Its either they pay back the total amount that they are owing or make a 60% AOD [acknowledgement of debt] with the City of Johannesburg."

For an apartment block in Milpark, that owes the utility R3.5 million, at least R2.1million would have to be paid back before power is reconnected.