Eskom issued an intention to reduce, interrupt and/or terminate the supply of electricity, to certain bulk supply points against the City of Johannesburg and City Power.
This is because the City and its power utility- City Power (CP), owe Eskom about 16 billion, excluding the current account of a further R1 582 093 993.32, due on 5 June 2026.
Eskom said it has been working with the pair for over two years to support the metro in meeting its payment obligations, along with nine other municipalities.
Speaking at the City’s address on Wednesday, Dada Morero, Mayor of Johannesburg, said “yes we are concerned about Eskom’s latest notice and we are taking it seriously. We will not fight Eskom, we will work with the Minister of Electricity and Energy and SALGA to resolve this challenge.”
Morero also said City Power has a turnaround strategy to address this challenge.
Part of the solution, he said, is to implement National Treasury and Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs guidance, to reform and strengthen Municipal Trading Entities.
“The City has also approached a German bank to provide a loan to fund energy related projects and is in the final stages of a €200 million contract.”
Morero said moreover, the implementation of the energy sustainability strategy is well underway, with about 108 retrofitted street lights, estimated annual savings of 804 Megawatts per hour, 676 buildings measured, 54 buildings identified for Energy Performance Certificate and 1,500 smart meters installed.
He also said the City is finalising the implementation of the Shalazile micro grid informal settlement electrification project.
A big win is also the completed Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station at Reuven.
Picture: Supplied