Eskom has suspended its plans to temporarily interrupt power to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) due to overdue debt. The move comes as an independent investigation is conducted into allegations of historical overbilling, amounting to R3,4 billion.

The suspension follows issuance of a Promotion of Administrative Justice Act notice on November 7, which outlined potential power cuts if outstanding payments were not addressed.

According to Eskom, the CoJ and its power utility, City Power (CP), were required to pay R1,4 billion for the September invoice to avoid interruption. “R1,3 billion has been paid, which is short of the agreed R1,4 billion. The October invoice of R1,3 billion that was due to be paid by November 29 remains unpaid at this time. CoJ and CP have committed to make a further payment by Friday December 6 towards the debt.”

Suspension of the notice aligns with the intervention by Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa who convened a meeting with stakeholders on November 11. The minister initiated a process to appoint an independent expert to investigate the billing dispute. The report, initially due by November 25, has been extended to December 6.