By More Matshediso
Pretoria - A task team has been established to resolve electricity challenges in three municipalities in the Free State, according to the Free State Provincial Government.
At the beginning of October, Eskom informed the public that electricity supply to the municipalities of Maluti-a-Phofung, Ngwathe and Dihlabeng in the province will be disconnected on 3 October at midday.
The power utility said this was due to the three municipalities having defaulted or short-paid on their current account for a prolonged period and having a substantial arrear debt, which has escalated from R550 million from 31 July 2014 to R736 million in 30 September 2014.
A meeting was convened on 6 October between the three affected municipalities, Free State Provincial Treasury, the national and provincial Departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), Eskom and National Treasury.
“The meeting thrashed out challenges relating to and contributing to electricity debt in municipalities. As a consequence of this meeting, a task team consisting of representatives from these key stakeholders has been set up to focus on resolving the issues at hand,” the provincial government said.
The team has two weeks to refine the proposals and present them for final discussion with Eskom, with a view to address the matter of electricity debt.
Once an action plan on the payment of debt is presented to Eskom and upon agreement with Eskom, the province will communicate the way forward on the matter. - SAnews.gov.za
