R200 electricity surcharge to remain in effect - City of Joburg
The municipality said that Joburg City Power needed the revenue to maintain the city’s electricity infrastructure.
FILE: Johannesburg Mayor Kableo Gwamanda. Picture: X/KabeloGwamanda
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg said that it had noted the public outcry over the new R200 electricity surcharge but insists that it will remain in effect.
The municipality said that Joburg City Power needed the revenue to maintain the city’s electricity infrastructure.
Starting in July, City Power customers on prepaid meters will have R200 deducted monthly from their electricity purchases.
READ: ActionSA: City Power must scrap monthly service fee charge, find alternative means to raise funds
In a media statement released on Thursday, Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said that the additional tariff was based on council outcomes dating back to 2018.
Gwamanda said that the municipality held back on implementing the surcharge due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he said that it was now time to create parity between prepaid and postpaid customers.
Gwamanda said that prepaid customers had historically been charged low service and network fees.
The mayor added that residents should not be surprised at the surcharge, since the city went on a public participation process before the new tariffs were passed in council.