Eskom warns Free State of cut-offs

Eskom has warned residents of 11 Free State municipalities they will be plunged into darkness if their municipalities don't settle their bills by the end of next week.

Eskom has warned residents of 24 towns in 11 Free State municipalities to "make altrnative arrangements" before the power utility pulls the plug on their suppliers on July 20.

The utility says the decision was not taken lightly, but that it has no option but to cut the delinquent municipalities off from the grid.

Barbara Hogan, the minister of public enterprises, revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question earlier today that municipalities owe Eskom R162.7-million.

This is how Eskom broke the news:

"Eskom has issued some municipalities in the Free State Province with notices of its intention to disconnect their electricity supply should they not settle their outstanding accounts before 20 July 2010.

"The municipalities in arrears are: Mangaung (Bloemfontein, Botshabelo), Ngwathe (Parys, Heilbron), Moqhaka (Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon), Matjhabeng (Welkom, Odendaalsrus), Masilonyana (Brandfort, Winburg), Mafube (Frankfort, Villiers), Nala (Bothaville, Wesselsbron) and Dihlabeng (Bethlehem Fouriesburg).

"The municipalities of Kopanong (Bethulie, Phillipolis, Gariep), Mohokare (Zastron, Smithfield, Rouxville) and Naledi (De Wetsdorp, Wepener) are also affected as they are supplied by Mangaung municipality.

"Unfortunately discussions between Eskom and the municipalities about the overdue payments did not yield the desired outcome. Eskom will continue its efforts to try to secure payment from the municipalities in order to avoid having to cut electricity supply to these areas.

"However, should payment for the outstanding electricity accounts not be received by Tuesday 20 July 2010, Eskom will have to terminate electricity supply to these municipalities for non-payment on that date.

"The decision to terminate the electricity supply was not taken lightly. The decision was taken as a last resort and can only be avoided by the municipalities paying the overdue amounts owed to Eskom.

"Eskom advises electricity consumers in the above-mentioned areas to make alternative arrangements should a settlement not be reached between the electricity provider and the Municipalities."