Well, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister of Electricity and Energy, has intervened in the City Power/Eskom tussle.
On Tuesday, Ramokgopa met with Dada Morero, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, on Monday morning, the 11 November 2024, as well as Executives of Eskom and City Power, to discuss this looming crisis.
Last week Friday, Eskom issued a notice of intention to City Power, to cut electricity supply in the City of Gold, just before the Christmas holidays, due to the R4, 9 billion, it is owed.
This amount excludes the current account of a further R1.4 billion, which will become due and payable at the end of November 2024.
In response, City Power said it is over-billed by over R3.4 billion, with a pending appeal and monthly declarations since July 2024.
Tebogo Moraka, Group Financial Officer of City Power, said “we are committed to ensuring uninterrupted access to electricity for the people of Johannesburg.”
The meeting outlined four necessary actions, to keep the lights on, in the City of Joburg.
The first, is to appoint the South African Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), to evaluate and validate the credibility of the bill levied by Eskom to City Power.
The second action, is to iron out internal, intergovernmental issues between Eskom and City Power, and for SANEDI to present an assessment report to all parties, by the 25 November 2024.
The third action is that City Power will pay the current account in order for the notice of
intention to interrupt power supply to the City of Johannesburg, issued by Eskom, to be withdrawn.