Eskom has suspended its Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) notice of potential power interruption against the City of Joburg (CoJ) and City Power issued last month.
According to the State-owned power utility, this is to allow the Minister of Electricity and Energy’s process undertaken by an independent expert regarding alleged historical overbilling to be concluded.
Following the Minister’s engagement with the Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero, executives from the CoJ, City Power and Eskom on 11 November 2024, an agreement was reached that an independent expert would be appointed to undertake a process to look into the disputed alleged overbilling of approximately R3.4 billion by 25 November 2024.
“This deadline was subsequently extended to 6 December 2024 for the report to be delivered to the Minister. Eskom continues to fully support the process,” Eskom said on Monday.
The utility said the CoJ and City Power were expected to pay R1.4 billion for the September 2024 invoice, which was withheld for Eskom to suspend the PAJA notice.
The City and City Power have since paid Eskom R1.3 billion, which is short of the agreed R1.4 billion.
“The October 2024 invoice of R1.3 billion that was due to be paid by Friday 29 November 2024 remains unpaid at this time. CoJ and City Power have committed to make a further payment by Friday, 6 December 2024, towards the debt.”
Following the submission of the independent report, Eskom said it will wait for a report from the Minister on the findings from the independent expert.
“Eskom will update stakeholders and the media, as and when there are new developments.” – SAnews.gov.za
