South Africa: Eskom Issues Notice of Intent to Interrupt Power to Joburg
The utility said the city and City Power owe R5.26 billion and warned that repeated defaults could trigger cuts at key supply points.
- On Tuesday, Eskom issued a notice of its intention to reduce or terminate electricity supply to bulk points serving the City of Johannesburg and City Power due to R5.2 billion in outstanding arrears.
- Eskom described the arrears as a "complete failure" to honor the electricity supply agreement, citing repeated defaults despite working with the City and City Power for over two years to support payment obligations.
- The utility maintained that it "cannot be acceptable to the City's residents and all South Africans" that the municipality collects electricity revenue while failing to pay over Eskom's share.
- Eskom's ability to supply affordable electricity depends on improving its balance sheet by collecting outstanding debt, as escalating municipal arrears undermine cost-efficiency efforts and increase expense pressures.
- To address the national crisis, Eskom developed the Distribution Agency Agreement as part of its Active Partnering initiative, with nine municipalities recently adopting the plan to restore technical and financial sustainability.
15 Articles
15 Articles
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South Africa’s economic hub could plunge into darkness over Eskom debt
According to an Eskom statement, the City of Johannesburg and its power utility, City Power, owed it an arrear debt of R5.26bn. A further R1.58bn rand is due on 5 June. The City of Johannesburg did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Eskom has issued a notice of its intention to “reduce, […] The post South Africa’s economic hub could plunge into darkness over Eskom debt appeared first on OODAloop.
City of Joburg facing dark ages as Eskom demands billions
By Anita Dangazele Eskom gave the City of Johannesburg until 8 July to pay a R5.2-billion debt or face major bulk electricity cuts. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero asked Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to intervene as French lenders and Moody’s also pressure the city. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero recently said the city’s working lights showed that Johannesburg was not in financial trouble. But this week, Eskom threatened to turn th…
Dada Morero racing against time to keep lights on amid Eskom threat
Dada Morero racing against time to keep lights on amid Eskom threat Zandile.Khumalo Wed, 05/20/2026 - 16:11 JOHANNESBURG - Just a day after Eskom threatened to cut off power to Johannesburg over R5 billion, the City Mayor Dada Morero took the podium for his State of the City Address under a lingering dark cloud of electricity crisis. Dressed in his suit and tie, Morero, who said the elephant in the room could not be ignored, finds himself rushi…
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