City Power has disconnected power to three defaulting businesses and two residential complexes owing over R20 million in unpaid electricity bills in the south of Johannesburg.

This forms part of a newly launched initiative by City Power and Reuven Service Delivery Centre to address illegally connected, non-paying and defaulting customers.

An amount of R20 750 175,06 was outstanding. This included a complex in Meredale, owing R7,1 million, and a hotel in Johannesburg South, which owed R750 000, the utility said.

“We are hoping that these operations, which are intensifying this winter season, will address the culture of non-payment and help alleviate the pressure on the grid,” City Power said in a statement.

Other measures that have been put in place to lighten the load on the grid include the installation of ripple relays. A ripple receiver is part of a load management system used to control electricity supply to the geyser during peak hours. For more on this story, click here.